I Swear
2025 · Directed by Kirk Jones
Original language: English
- drama
- history
The story
Diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome at 15, John Davidson navigates his way against the odds through troubled teenage years and into adulthood, finding inspiration in the kindness of others to discover his true purpose in life.
What it’s like
Warm, grounded Scottish naturalism with a rueful edge: handheld camera that stays close to faces in cramped kitchens, pub interiors and council-estate streets, washed-in greys and browns broken by the sodium glow of nighttime towns and the bright colours of 1980s and 1990s fashion. Rain, damp pavements and flat northern light give the places weight, and the soundtrack leans on period pop and folk-tinged guitar rather than swelling strings. The tone moves between dark comedy and quiet hurt: outbursts and involuntary tics are played for both laughter and discomfort, and the mood turns tender when a few patient characters step in. Pacing is brisk and episodic, covering years in a rush, then slowing around small kindnesses. The arc follows a young man pushed to the margins by a condition that frightens his community, slowly finding a place among people who stop flinching. Bullying, shouting, and a few sharp scenes of humiliation are present, along with occasional swearing and sexual references, but there is no gore, and the most intense moments are emotional rather than graphic. Suits a rainy weekend or a reflective evening for viewers who enjoy true-life Scottish stories with humour and heart, though those seeking something soft and wholly gentle should expect some harshness.
More films like I Swear
Closest in mood, pacing and theme. Tell us why you loved I Swearand we’ll explain which ones fit you.
