Scottish activist John Davidson does not like the word “disability,” so we will refer to his diagnosis of Tourette’s Syndrome as a condition. The effects of this neurological condition have severe consequences for social interaction, far more than better understood and immediately visible physical limitations like being blind, deaf, or in a wheelchair. People with Tourette’s often have tics and other involuntary jerking movements, and about ten percent of them cannot help shouting out shocking, vile, and offensive language.
Davidson’s life is the subject of the sensitive, heartwarming “I Swear.” He made worldwide headlines this year when he yelled a racist epithet at the BAFTA awards. What many of the news stories omitted was the announcement before the ceremony that he was in the audience, because this film was a nominee, and that an uncontrollable outburst was possible. This thoughtful, sympathetic film has an outstanding performance by BAFTA Best Actor awardee Robert Aramayo (“Game of Thrones”). It begins in 2019, with the very formal ceremony in which Davidson received an MBE from Queen Elizabeth II for his advocacy on behalf of people with Tourette’s. She, too, had been alerted to the likelihood of a disruptive shout, which did occur and was extremely crude. Her Majesty handled it with regal aplomb.
We then go back in time to see then-14-year-old Davidson (Scott Ellis Watson), a gifted young soccer goalie about to start high school. Tourette’s often appears in adolescence, so we see the beginning of his twitches and tics, his inability to suppress his outbursts, and the horrified reaction of his parents and the school. He is frequently punished, forced to eat his dinner sitting on the floor away from his family at the table, and painfully smacked on his palm by the principal. Finally, he is expelled, and his father, who dreamed of John’s becoming a professional soccer player, leaves home.
Thirteen years later, Davidson (Aramayo) is still living with his mother (Shirley Henderson). The meds he takes to manage the Tourette’s do not help much, and he has not been able to find a job. Then he meets Dottie (Maxine Peake, exemplifying good humor and understanding), a warm-hearted nurse who will change his life. As people with Tourette’s do, the first thing he says to her is the last thing anyone should say: “You’re going to die of cancer.” She had been diagnosed with terminal cancer and given six months to live. But we know, because we saw her encouraging him at that 2019 award ceremony in the opening scene, that she’s going to survive.
Davidson moves in with Dottie, and she finds him a job as an assistant custodian at a local community center. His boss, Tommy (Peter Mullan), is crusty but kind. The unquestioning understanding and support John feels from Dottie and Tommy help him to relax, and he feels the Tourette’s imperatives less when he has something to focus on. The job gives him a place to be and people who focus on his dedication and good spirits instead of his tics and outbursts.
There are some setbacks. He is sued for assault when an involuntary jerk of his arm punches someone. He is assaulted, badly beaten, and mistreated by police. But then two opportunities come his way. A couple asks him to meet with their daughter, who has Tourette’s and has never met another person with the same condition. The scene of the two of them in the back seat of a car, happily tic-ing with each other as they realize they are not alone, is heart-piercingly sweet and also very funny.
One of the cops who mistakenly assumed Davidson was being aggressive asks him to come speak to officers about Tourette’s so they can approach people with respect and understanding. Davidson realizes that he can make a difference by providing support for people with Tourette’s and their families, and by sharing information so others can support them, too. We get a glimpse of the first-ever gathering in Scotland of people with Tourette’s and their families, organized by Davidson, as well as some of his presentations. And then we get to see him test out an experimental new treatment. Seeing him walk quietly through the campus and have the kind, unforced, casual conversation we take for granted is very moving.
Davidson was the subject of BBC documentaries at ages 16, 30, and 37, so he and Tourette’s have had more representation than this would suggest. But the ignorant and deeply painful misrepresentation of his condition at the BAFTAs shows just how much this film will do to make all of us think twice before judging someone.
