I SWEAR
If there is one person who has done more than anyone to raise the profile of Tourette's Syndrome, it is Scotsman John Davidson.
Aged 16, he came to national attention in the UK when the BBC aired a documentary about him and his condition.
'John's Not Mad' became an instant TV classic in 1989, showing the teenager's struggle with a condition that caused him to uncontrollably swear obscenities, shout inappropriate remarks about those around him, twitch and make involuntary moments.
Unintentionally funny, some people treated the film under the BBC's 'QED' strand like it was a cult comedy classic.
But the reality for John Davidson and other Tourette's sufferers was it was far from funny - hugely impacting on their lives, with a lot of people thinking they were being deliberately offensive or were insane and the condition making it really difficult for them to progress through the education system, find work and romance.
Two subsequent documentaries 'The Boy Can't Help It' in 2002 and 'Tourette's: I Swear I Can't Help It' followed John's progress aged 30 and 37 and shone a light on the experiences of another sufferer, Greg Storey from Yorkshire.
Over time, awareness of the condition has grown thanks to Davidson and Storey's bravery in educating the public about their condition.
With Davidson receiving an MBE for his work with other sufferers and his efforts to raise awarenes, it's easy to see why movie producers would be attracted to his life story.
Not surprisingly it has, courtesy of 'Waking Ned,' 'Nanny McPhee' and 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2' director Kirk Jones.
'I Swear' casts Robert Aramayo and Scott Ellis Wilson as the adult and teenage Davidson, initially charting his decline from a promising teenage goalkeeper and secondary school pupil to a misunderstood Tourette's sufferer written off by a succession of intolerant people.
But far from being a depressing watch, it's actually a glorious celebration of empathy and the willingness of people to champion a person that society has written off.
And so we get to see Davidson grow, thanks to the support of Maxine Peake's mental health nurse Dottie Achenbach and Peter Mullan's caretaker Tommy Trotter.
Aramayo and Ellis Wilson are terrific as the adult and teenage Davidson, convincingly portraying the physical and verbal tics that Tourette's sufferers endure.
The latter's decline as a teenager is undoubtedly a heartbreaking watch.
The former's struggles as an adult are no easier but his emergence as an effective advocate for sufferers is uplifting and inspiring.
Jones, who wrote the script, and his cast have a tricky path to navigate.
While some of the things he says are incredibly funny, especially in his Scottish accent, the film has to avoid laughing at John - laughing with him.
And that's exactly what they achieved in a movie that is also wonderfully tender, moving and humane.
Jones does a wonderful job, delivering a handsome film with the help of cinematographer James Blann.
He's also really comfortable handling an accomplished cast and if Peake's attempt at a Scottish accent occasionally wobbles, she is nevertheless engaging.
Mullan is superb as a kind hearted caretaker who takes John under his wing and encourages him to educate people about his condition.
Shirley Henderson arguably faces the toughest challenge of all the supporting cast as John'a prudish, conservative mother who struggles to understand his son and is embarrassed by his tics and swearing.
Nevertheless it is Aramayo and Ellis Wilson's performances that will live long in the memories of those who see 'I Swear'.
Reminiscent of Daniel Day Lewis and Hugh O'Connor's depiction of Christy Brown in Jim Sheridan's 'My Left Foot,' they are performances that deserve a lot of attention during awards season.
Hopefully, they'll get it.
('I Swear' opened in UK and Irish cinemas on October 10, 2025)
Comments
Post a Comment