Based on a true story. The remarkable life of a Tourette syndrome campaigner, who grew up with the condition in 1980s Scotland, when it was little known and misunderstood. A film by Kirk Jones, starring Robert Aramayo, Maxine Peake, Shirley Henderson, Scott Ellis Watson, David Carlyle, Christina Ashford, Sanjeev Kohli, Steven Cree, Ethan Stewart, Isla Mercer, Catriona McArthur, Paul Donnelly, Ron Donachie, Jamie McAllister, Abigail Noon, Leah MacRae, Douglas Rankine, Francesco Piacentini-Smith, Chris Dixon, John McLarnon, Anthony Capaldi, Donald Morrison, Ruth Milne, Paul Cassidy, and Peter Mullan.

Written and directed by English filmmaker Kirk Jones, I SWEAR is a comedy-drama based on the true story of John Davidson, a Scottish man living with severe Tourette syndrome.

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@pradt

I SWEAR 🫨
Based on a true story.
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A film by Kirk Jones, starring Robert Aramayo, Maxine Peake, Shirley Henderson, Scott Ellis Watson, Francesco Piacentini-Smith, Steven Cree, David Carlyle, Jamie McAllister, Ron Donachie, Douglas Rankine, and Peter Mullan.

Tourette syndrome is a neurological condition that causes tics, which are sudden, repetitive movements or sounds that a person cannot fully control. These can be motor tics, such as blinking, shoulder shrugging, or head jerks, or vocal tics like throat clearing, sniffing, and grunting. Tics can change over time and may become more or less noticeable depending on the situation. The condition usually begins in childhood, often between the ages of 5 and 10, and symptoms tend to lessen with age. The exact cause is not fully known, but it is believed to involve a combination of genetic and environmental factors, and it is more common in boys than girls. There is no cure, though many people do not need treatment unless symptoms interfere with daily life. Tourette syndrome does not affect life expectancy, and most people with the condition live full, normal lifespans. Tourette syndrome often occurs alongside other conditions such as ADHD, OCD, anxiety, or depression. When treatment is needed, options include behavioral therapy, counseling, or medication.

I SWEAR premiered at Toronto International Film Festival on 7 September 2025. The film was theatrically released in the United Kingdom on 10 October.