"Kirk Jones's terrifically warm, generous film is about real-life activist John Davidson, who is from Galashiels in the Scottish Borders and has Tourette syndrome, with its tics, compulsive behaviour patterns and random obscene shouts. He was awarded an MBE in 2019 for his work educating the nation about the condition since he first exhibited its symptoms as a teenager in 1989, as captured in the BBC's sensational documentary John's Not Mad."
"I Swear contains a great performance from Robert Aramayo, full of intelligence and charm, and it raises relevant questions about the overdiagnosis debate surrounding conditions such as ADHD and autism, as well as the larger tonal point of how, when and whether to laugh at John or with him. Scott Ellis Watson plays the young John at school, who is bullied and savagely given the strap as he becomes symptomatic in his teens."
Kirk Jones's film I Swear follows real-life activist John Davidson from Galashiels, who lives with Tourette syndrome characterized by tics, compulsive behaviours and random obscene shouts. The film shows Davidson's public advocacy, including an MBE awarded in 2019 and his appearance in the BBC documentary John's Not Mad. Robert Aramayo gives a warm, intelligent performance as adult John, while Scott Ellis Watson portrays him as a bullied, symptomatic teenager. Supporting performances include Shirley Henderson, Maxine Peake and Peter Mullan. The film balances humor and pathos, raises questions about overdiagnosis of ADHD and autism, and interrogates when to laugh with or at John.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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