I Swear (2025)
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12-month trend
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2025-09 to 2026-08
A Scottish man with Tourette syndrome navigates the challenges of his condition and the complexities of his family life.
The story
In 1983, 12-year-old John Davidson lives with his working-class family in the Scottish Borders. While aspiring to become a footballer, he begins to experience uncontrollable tics and swearing at school. These incidents lead to disciplinary actions from his head teacher and strain his parents' marriage. By 1996, now 25, John continues to live with his mother while managing his incurable Tourette syndrome. He navigates the difficulties of social interactions and employment while seeking a way to manage his condition, eventually becoming an advocate for others living with the condition.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1983, 12-year-old John Davidson lives in Galashiels, Scotland. While trying to become a footballer, he begins experiencing tics and involuntary swearing. His head teacher punishes him, and his condition causes a rift in his parents' marriage, leading his father to leave. In 1996, at age 25, John is diagnosed with Tourette syndrome. He meets a friend, Murray, and a nurse, Dottie, who helps him find a job at a community center. Despite several setbacks, including a physical altercation in a bar and a legal battle where he is unable to finish a court oath without swearing, he is eventually cleared of charges. He becomes a mentor and advocate for others with Tourette's, eventually earning an MBE in 2019. The film concludes in 2023 with John testing a new treatment device and ends with real-life footage of the actual John Davidson.
- First release year
- 2025
- Runtime (minutes)
- 120
- Production countries
- United Kingdom
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Kirk Jones
- Writers
- Kirk Jones · writer
- Cast and characters
- Robert Aramayo · John Davidson; Maxine Peake; Shirley Henderson; Scott Ellis Watson · young Davidson; Peter Mullan
- Genres
- biographical drama; black comedy; comedy-drama
- Themes
- Tourette syndrome; family relationships; advocacy; societal awareness
- Tone and mood
- humane; serious; larky
- Premise and plot tags
- biographical; Tourette's syndrome; Scottish
- Reception
- The film was acclaimed by critics, who praised the performances of Aramayo and Mullan. It received a weighted average score of 70 out of 100 on Metacritic.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 70 · scale: 100 · review count: 27
- Awards and nominations
- British Academy Film Awards · Best Actor in a Leading Role · win
- Production trivia
- Kirk Jones cast Robert Aramayo without an audition.; Aramayo spent three months in the town of Galashiels to prepare for the role.; The film features footage of the real John Davidson.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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