I SWEAR

Rating 4.5 out of 5

I Swear features a career defining performance from Robert Aramayo as Scottish Tourette syndrome activist John Davidson in the uplifting and inspiring biopic from writer and director Kirk Jones, who through his screenplay and direction creates not only a beautifully moving film that won’t leave a dry eye in the house, but an important education tool in raising awareness and understanding for Tourette’s.

While the film opened last year in the United Kingdom to critical and audience appraise, audiences around the rest of the world had not heard of I Swear until its big showing at the British Academy Film Awards last month, where it not only took home the prize for Outstanding British Film of the Year, but its lead star Robert Aramayo beat out Timothée Chalamet, who at the time was heavily favoured to win and cement his path to the Academy Award, and claimed the prize for Best Leading Actor. And having seen I Swear, not only did Aramayo fully deserve that honour for his beautiful performance of John Davidson, a Scottish man with Tourette syndrome, but if campaigned properly, we are looking at an Academy Award worthy performance next awards season. Beyond Aramayo’s brilliant work, I Swear is not only an important film that educates audiences on Tourette syndrome in the hopes of raising awareness of the struggles faced by those who have it, but reduces the stigma surrounding it in a beautiful film that is by far one of the best films of the year to date.

Even though I Swear follows the standard biopic narrative formula, there is something special about the life story of John Davidson that immediately makes you forget the formulaic telling of it. Teasing the honour bestowed on him by the late Queen Elizabeth II in the film’s opening scene, Kirk Jones’s screenplay tells John’s story in chronological order, showing the first sign of Tourette’s impacting his life as a teenager all the way to present day, showcasing the effect it had on his relationships, employment and overall social acceptance. While not groundbreaking in the way in which John’s life story is told, where Kirk’s writing shines is through the emotion woven into each scene. From the fractured familial relationships with his parents due to his Tourette’s, the caring bonds that John forms with Dottie Achenbach and Tommy Trotter, the prejudice and fear that John is met with on a daily basis, to his work as an advocate for Tourette’s, Kirk effortlessly infuses the film with not only the ongoing struggle faced by John as an individual living with Tourette’s, but the unwavering optimism and hope that John lives his life with and the kindness that he found in others that set him on his remarkable life path. It's with this emotional intelligence in the screenplay that Kirk brings John’s story to life with a care and understanding that not only has the audience perfectly in tune with John and the challenges he faces as an individual living with Tourette’s, but provides the necessary knowledge about Tourette’s that so many in the world are missing to help break the stigma surrounding the condition and the negative portrayal it too often gets in film and television.

As delicate as Jones’ screenplay is, I Swear soars to unbelievable heights thanks to Aramayo’s magnificent portrayal of John Davidson. Capturing Tourette’s without making it come across as a comedic routine on camera is not easy, as the sudden outbursts of swearing and physical tics can be perceived as funny to the uninformed viewer, but Aramayo balances John’s tics with the caring young man underneath them to create a meaningful portrayal. In each scene, Aramayo sets the basis of John’s story as a young man wanting to experience life like anyone else, find his place in society and be accepted with a warmth and optimism, creating an inspirational individual who is not defined by his Tourette’s. The physicality he captures in John’s tics is impressive, naturally breaking his composure to portray Tourette’s with an unflinching honesty, while the verbal outbursts never come across as funny (expect when called for) but instead portray John as he is: at times a joyful and hardworking young man full of life, but at others with an afflicting honesty as the challenges caused by these outbursts creates a hurt that shows viewers how cruel and unaccepting our world can be. It is truly a transformative performance that is not only a tour de force that fills the entire film with its heart, but one that will no doubt catapult Aramayo into an incredibly successful next chapter in his career and continued awards love.

While Aramayo dazzles from start to finish in his leading performance, the supporting cast matches his talents at every turn and delivers electric pairings with him that give the film its heart. Maxine Peake is wonderful as Dottie Achenbach, who instantly becomes the grounding force of the film and John’s story as the mother of John’s friend who sees John’s true potential, never defines him by his condition, and shows him unrestrained kindness and respect that sets John on his life changing path. Peter Mullan is excellent as John’s mentor and friend Tommy, creating a great on screen chemistry with Aramayo as Tommy sees the hard working individual within John and helps to create acceptance within the community for him, at the same time as refusing to see his condition and merely the kind soul beneath the tics while never sacrificing Tommy’s rougher persona. 

Shirley Henderson is heartbreaking as John’s mother Heather, who has seen her family torn apart due to John’s condition before they had a proper understanding of what they are dealing with. While it can easily be misconstrued as cold and dismissive, Henderson finds a devastating pain and tiredness within Heather that displays the truth in the unfortunate pressure on families with Tourette’s without the proper support. And it is hard to believe Scott Ellis Watson makes his acting debut, because the raw performance he delivers as the teenage version of John is staggering. Capturing the scared reaction to his body changing without an understanding of what is happening to him, as well as a commanding grip over John’s newfound tics, Watson is great and perfectly sets up Aramayo’s performance to continue this honest and heartfelt portrayal of John for the rest of the film. 

In today’s world where we are too quick to judge and criticize, we could all benefit from being more understanding and accepting others as they are, and that is what I Swear reminds viewers of. Even as it follows the conventional biopic blueprint with its chronological storytelling, there is no denying that Kirk Jones’ writing and direction captures a magic in the life story of John Davidson that when armed with the magnificent Robert Aramayo and an outstanding supporting cast, making for one of the most important films about kindness and acceptance that we have seen in years. Anchored by a terrific lead performance from Robert Aramayo whose dedication and compassion for telling John Davidson’s life story shines throughout the entire film, giving the first truly amazing performance of the year, I Swear easily becomes a heartwarming and inspirational biopic that is certain to move audiences with its powerful storytelling, but also raise awareness and educate on Tourette syndrome to help those who live with the condition become more readily accepted in society.