PALM SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2026 REVIEW! Director Kirk Jones’ I Swear tracks John Davidson’s life as his undiagnosed Tourette’s turns everyday moments—family, friendship, even basic public interactions—into high-stakes landmines. It’s a story of bravery about a guy trying to claw his way toward dignity in a world that keeps demanding he “just control himself.”
Our tale begins in 1983 in the Scottish town of Galashiels, where 12-year-old John Davidson (Scott Ellis Watson) dreams of becoming a football goalie. Right as a scout is set to evaluate him, John’s body starts betraying him with sudden tics and involuntary outbursts—something no one around him understands yet. School discipline becomes cruel as he is swatted several times before being expelled. The pressure at home grows as John is no longer allowed to eat at the family dinner table and becomes such an embarrassment that his father walks away from John, his siblings, and his mother, Heather Davidson (Shirley Henderson). Seeing no hope, John attempts to end his life by throwing himself into the river.
Twelve years later, John Davidson (Robert Aramayo) is 25, still stuck at home with his mother, Heather Davidson (Shirley Henderson), and finally receives a Tourette’s diagnosis—an answer that doesn’t magically make daily life easier. Because of his tics, John is unable to find work, be in a relationship with a woman, or make friends. He is the constant target of ridicule around town. Some people try to make the best of it with John, while most don’t.
“…finally receives a Tourette’s diagnosis—an answer that doesn’t magically make daily life easier.”
In a chance meeting at the market, John runs into his old classmate, Murray (Francesco Piacentini-Smith), and invites him to his home for dinner. There, he meets Murray’s mother, Dotty (Maxine Peake), a mental health nurse. Dotty sees what’s really going on with John and insists that he stop apologizing for the offensive things he says, including his blunt reminders that Dotty’s cancer will kill her. When medication and treatments had failed, Dotty took John into her home and began various therapies to integrate him into society.
After calling a girl the B-word at a nightclub with Murray, Dotty helps John get work at a community center alongside caretaker Tommy Trotter (Peter Mullan), who treats John’s outbursts like background noise—until the outside world forces John into a criminal trial, where even taking the oath becomes its own battle.
I’ll admit, during the first twenty minutes of I Swear, I thought it was comedy. All kidding aside, Kirk Jones’ tale of John Davidson’s life sheds an incredible amount of light on living with Tourette’s Syndrome. Until the last decade or so, those with Tourette’s hid themselves from public shame. John was savagely beaten, arrested, and almost sent to prison for his words. With Dotty’s help, John learns he deserves to live with dignity, and we, as observers and an audience, need a better understanding of the condition.
We also delve into the so-called “cures” of Tourette’s. Everyone implores John to “control yourself.” Yes, there is medication, and every case is different. For John, he could live like a medicated zombie for the rest of his life. Unless you walk in the shoes of a person with Tourette’s, I’d be cautious of just telling them to take a pill and see a behavioral therapist. It’s clear in the film that if there were an easy cure, they would take it. It’s also clear that no one wants to say the N-Word on a global stage on purpose.
“I’ll admit, during the first twenty minutes of I Swear, I thought it was comedy.”
The film’s inspiring moment comes in the third act, when John uses the community center as a safe haven for children and teens with Tourette’s. It’s a place where kids can gather, feel normal, and check off bucket list items… like going out in public that they didn’t think they could do on their own. John also uses these events to speak to parents and show them they are not alone, either.
Robert Aramayo is brilliant as John Davidson. I’m no expert on Tourette’s, but his verbal dexterity and physical gymnastics were impressive and convinced me. Tics and outbursts aside, Aramayo portrays Davidson with the great sweetness and empathy of a teddy bear. It’s more than enough to root for John and feel anger at those who misunderstand his condition.
In the end, no one WANTS Tourette’s Syndrome. No parent wants to see their child be mercilessly beaten and bullied. No one wants to intentionally say the N-Word on a global stage. I Swear is not looking for pity. It’s looking for empathy and understanding, as if to say there is no such thing as good or bad disabilities.
I Swear screened at the 2026 Palm Springs International Film Festival.
"…It's looking for empathy and understanding..."
