I Swear

Met Robert Aramayo, Maxine Peake, Peter Mullan UK/Ireland – 2025 – DCP – 120′ (VO) English spoken, Dutch/French subtitled The film starts at 8:00 PM In I Swear, Kirk Jones tells the true story of John Davidson, a man who is diagnosed with Tourette's syndrome at a young age and is therefore labeled as “different” early on. What follows is not a classic hero's journey, but a whimsical path of shame, anger, and eventually self-acceptance, in a world that hardly understands him. The film chooses a tone that constantly balances between humor and pain. Tics and uncontrolled outbursts are not filtered out or softened, but rather placed centrally, making discomfort and compassion go hand in hand. Jones avoids sentimental clichés and focuses on the daily reality of living with Tourette's. School, work, public space — everywhere Davidson encounters misunderstanding and stigma. At the same time, the film shows how he gradually finds his voice and develops into an advocate for recognition and nuance. Stylistically, I Swear stays close to its character. The camera often follows from close by, almost at skin level, making every tension and discharge physically palpable. The editing and sound reinforce that experience: abrupt interruptions, unexpected eruptions, moments of silence that are never completely reassuring. This film is not a polished biography, but a direct and sometimes confrontational study of difference and dignity. I Swear shows how thin the line is between laughing and looking away — and how important it is to break that reflex.