I Swear- A Review
I Swear is a biographical film which follows John Davidson from Scotland to Buckingham Palace.
As a teenage boy John messes up a chance with a football scout because his early Tourettes Syndrome, which no one yet recognises as a disability, takes hold on the pitch- to everyone’s confusion. His parents, at this moment and many others, lack understanding and consider him rude and foolish.
Viewers are taken through his diffcult secondary school life to his twenties, where a chance meeting with a schoolfriend in a supermarket changes his life for the better. His friend’s mother, Dottie, takes him in and shows him care and understanding. She arranges a job for him with Tommy, who almost ignores his Tourettes and simply asks him to make tea as part of the interview (disabled adults, take note for your future PAs!).
Tommy encourages John to educate the world about Tourettes. Eventually John becomes a campaigner who supports young people and their families who are living with Tourettes as well as educating organisations and authorities. He recieves an MBE for his campaigning and swears at The Queen!
As the title suggests, the film contains a lot of swearing. The good news is that in 2025, unlike 1975, everyone knows that the swearing and tics are completely unintentional and caused by a recognised medical condition.
I’m very glad I went to see this film. I came away with admiration for John Davidson and new information about the history of Tourettes. I recommend it highly.
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