As opening scenes to biopics go, having your subject say "F**k the Queen" as they collect their MBE is up there with the most unexpected. The fact that it's totally true is also part of the charm of I Swear, which doesn't shy away from the inappropriately funny side of Tourette's Syndrome, while also showing the pain it can cause.
Written and directed by Kirk Jones (who has previously delivered British crowdpleasers Nanny McPhee and Waking Ned), I Swear tells the life story of John Davidson, from misunderstood teenager through to his present-day advocacy for the understanding and acceptance of Tourette's Syndrome.
It's a fairly standard biopic approach to what is anything but an ordinary life, but a star-making central performance from Robert Aramayo and a strong supporting cast of British favourites mean I Swear is a funny, heartbreaking and ultimately uplifting watch. What's more, it could be a very important one too, as well as being one of the best British movies of the year.
While there have been movies and TV shows before that have featured characters with Tourette's Syndrome, it wouldn't be a surprise if your biggest cultural touchpoint is Pete Bennett from 2006's Big Brother. Yet the disorder is more common than you'd expect, with around 1 in 100 school-aged children affected, even if it often goes undiagnosed.
I Swear could be the movie to change that, delivering an honest portrayal of the disorder and how it directly impacts the person. The biopic frankly portrays the experience of 15-year-old John (Scott Ellis Watson in an impressive movie debut) struggling to get diagnosed; even his family blame him for his tics, relegating him to eating his dinner in front of the fireplace in one of the most heartwrenching scenes of the movie.
It doesn't get easier as we jump forward 13 years, with Aramayo taking over the role as John reaches his late 20s. The difference is that John found people who supported him, in spite of his tics, in the likes of Dottie (Maxine Peake) and Tommy (Peter Mullan), setting John on his path to become an advocate for the understanding and acceptance of Tourette's Syndrome.
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Importantly, when I Swear reaches his stage, the filmmakers made sure to cast actors with Tourette's Syndrome, giving them a stage few other movies or TV shows have. It's still a showcase for Aramayo, who is flawless at treading the thin line between the tragedy and humour of Tourette's, but the wider casting gives the movies an authenticity that lifts it.
But while we hope that the movie can positively impact how we view Tourette's Syndrome, we don't want to put you off assuming it's only an Important Movie about Issues. I Swear is also often incredibly funny, such as when John gets arrested in his first attempt as a drug runner, only to discover it's a bag of sugar.
The crucial thing is that it's not laughing at John and the fact he lets out the odd swear word. It's just a warts-and-all portrayal of living with Tourette's where, sometimes, it is funny in an inappropriate way and, sometimes, it is incredibly hard on not just John, but also the people around him.
If there's a complaint to be had about I Swear, it's that it somewhat rushes over the advocacy side of John's life. We see him setting up a support group at the community centre he works at, but it's otherwise dealt with in an extended montage that jumps forward to his MBE.
The focus is more on understanding who John is as a person, rather than the details of the incredible work he has done. Given that it means we get to spend more time with the brilliant supporting cast, you won't complain too much and if you do want to know that side, there are TV documentaries on John and his work for a post-movie viewing.
And the focus on getting to know John personally means that when you get to the beautifully-judged and moving finale, as he gets to experience a library for the first time, there won't be a dry eye in the house.
I Swear is released in UK and Irish cinemas on October 10.
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Movies Editor, Digital Spy Ian has more than 10 years of movies journalism experience as a writer and editor. Starting out as an intern at trade bible Screen International, he was promoted to report and analyse UK box-office results, as well as carving his own niche with horror movies, attending genre festivals around the world. After moving to Digital Spy, initially as a TV writer, he was nominated for New Digital Talent of the Year at the PPA Digital Awards. He became Movies Editor in 2019, in which role he has interviewed 100s of stars, including Chris Hemsworth, Florence Pugh, Keanu Reeves, Idris Elba and Olivia Colman, become a human encyclopedia for Marvel and appeared as an expert guest on BBC News and on-stage at MCM Comic-Con. Where he can, he continues to push his horror agenda – whether his editor likes it or not.
