I Swear deserves your time to listen too.
Written and directed by Kirk Jones, the film stars Robert Aramayo, Peter Mullan, Maxine Peake and Shirley Henderson. Focus of the lens captures the inspiring life of Tourette Syndrome activist John Davidson, who in real life was diagnosed at the tender age of 14 years old. Set within 1980s Britain, the story follows him throughout his troubled teens and early adulthood, and explores this little known and entirely misunderstood condition, along with his attempts to live a ‘normal’ life against the odds.
“John’s life story is equally humorous as it is tragic…The onset of the condition changed his life,” the director says in a statement. “The eye blinking developed into twitching and jerking, then came the day he shouted uncontrollably to his mother: “Suck my Cock”. Since then, John’s life has been shaped by Tourette’s.”
Touching and full of emotionally charged scenes, the audiences finds themselves laughing at times and others gripped with sorrowful feelings. It is hard to not appreciate the sheer will and determination of a main character who learns that it is perfectly acceptable to stand up and be heard. Your voice matters despite a capability.
“We hope the film is considered entertaining, emotionally engaging and at times, humorous, whilst also raising awareness, not just for those living with Tourette’s, but for anyone who is judged or discounted because of a condition or disability,” Jones continues. “A film where the protagonist shouts racist, homophobic, misogynistic and sexist language has more potential to provoke anger and upset than ever before. But, when the individual is simply unable to stop neurological urges, when they are diagnosed with a medical condition, when they need to be supported and understood instead of criticized or attacked, then there is a place for a film to tell their story and promote empathy.”
