I Swear

Every day, we come across people who make us pause. Most of the time, we take a quick look and make a judgment about what they’re doing or how they’re acting—without really thinking about it. It’s moments like that that bring to mind the idea of “walking a mile in someone else’s shoes,” because the truth is, we rarely know what brought someone to that point.

That thought stayed with me while watching Kirk Jones’s film I Swear, which does a great job of letting us step into John Davidson’s world.

John Davidson (Robert Aramayo) lives with Tourette’s syndrome, and while life has become more manageable for him over time, it hasn’t been an easy journey. As a child, things start off relatively normal, but eventually his symptoms begin to appear. Without understanding what’s happening, John is kicked out of school because of his disruptive behavior, and even his father leaves, unable to cope with his episodes.

His mother struggles to handle it as well, but help comes from an unexpected place. Dottie (Maxine Peake), a friend’s mother and former mental health nurse, takes John in and gives him the support he needs.

The film then jumps to 1996, where we spend most of our time with John as an adult trying to navigate life with his tics. That means doing his best to stay out of trouble, constantly apologizing, and learning how to exist in a world that doesn’t always understand him. With Dottie’s encouragement, he begins to take steps forward—eventually landing a job at a community center, where he meets Tommy (Peter Mullan), another important figure in his life.

From there, the story becomes about learning to live fully as yourself—and helping others understand along the way.

Written and directed by Jones, I Swear is a warm, generous biopic that manages to feel fresh by avoiding many of the usual tropes. The film keeps things grounded, focusing on the human side of the story without overplaying the emotion or turning it into something overly sentimental.

And while it deals with a serious condition, the film isn’t afraid to find humor in the situation. There’s a really nice balance here between heart and laughs, and it never feels disrespectful.

At its core, I Swear is an honest and heartfelt film that’s both inspiring and deeply human. It shows someone facing what life has given him and finding a way to turn it into something meaningful.

The story itself is strong, but it’s Aramayo’s performance that really stands out. He’s genuinely funny, capturing John’s physicality and mannerisms in a way that feels authentic rather than imitative. You can tell the performance is built on honesty and respect for the condition, which makes it all the more impactful.

Everything comes together to create a film that’s not only entertaining, but also illuminating in how it presents a difficult subject with care and humanity.

For me, I Swear made me laugh, got me a little emotional, and most importantly, left me with a real appreciation for who John Davidson was as a person.