I Swear ★★★★★

Released: 10 October 2025 

Director: Kirk Jones 

Starring: Robert Aramayo, Peter Mullan, Maxine Peake & Shirley Henderson 

While heartwarming British biopics spotlighting plucky underdogs certainly aren’t in short supply, Kirk Jones’ hugely inspiring I Swear is a terrific addition, deftly transcending the genre’s often formulaic trappings. This is partly thanks to its hilariously unexpected opening (it’s not every day you hear someone shout “F*** the Queen” at an MBE ceremony!) but largely due to the moving journey of real-life activist John Davidson, whose educational and awareness campaigns have made an incredible difference across the nation. 

The film documents John’s life – from his early teens as a promising up-and-coming goalie before the onset of his symptoms, to his school years as an ostracised and misunderstood “troublemaker” routinely punished for “playing the fool,” to ultimately the fallout of his diagnosis, fracturing his family and options for his future. That is, until a chance encounter with an old friend (Francesco Piacentini-Smith) and his hugely compassionate mother Dottie Achenbach (Henderson) – a former mental-health nurse – changes the trajectory of his life, finally offering the warmth and encouragement he needs to help turn things around.  

While over 300,000 people in the UK are currently living with Tourette’s – and a number of high-profile figures, such as Lewis Capaldi, are helping to further spotlight the condition – it’s shocking to see how starkly different John was treated, as it was largely unheard of in the ’80s. Thankfully writer/director Jones strikes a measured balance between the incredible lows and highs with a genuine warmth and wit, paired with some excellent laugh out loud moments at the absurdity – and timing – of John’s sweary tics. 

The first two acts are a heart-wrenching – but important – watch, as John suffers cruel discrimination from the community, the police and courts and is brutally hospitalised following a misunderstanding over his tic. Thankfully, there’s also genuine catharsis in the third. A standout sequence, in which he meets a teenage girl with Tourette’s, leads to an amusing yet therapeutic joint outburst in the back of her parents’ car (“my dad’s a jellyfish!”), signalling the start of John’s trailblazing work educating the nation. The Galashiels-born community worker then begins organising retreats and awareness sessions for those with the condition – along with their families and carers – in a celebratory segment that features strong representation without straying into overly saccharine territory.  

Rings of Power star Robert Aramayo is absolutely incredible in his portrayal, impressively capturing the physical movements of the condition (particularly in his eyes and neck) alongside the vocal tics. He elicits such empathy with his hugely likeable performance, especially opposite Maxine Peake, whose incredible warmth and compassion shine through in her turn as Dottie. Peter Mullan also surprises as community centre worker Tommy, who gives John his first job and break, going against type with his accepting mentorship and affectionate advocacy. Scott Ellis Watson also shines as the young John, delivering a deeply emotive and physically transformative performance. 

With its touching message of empathy, acceptance and kindness, along with excellent performances from Aramayo, Peake and Mullan, I Swear is a hugely important and informative watch – and potentially one of this year’s best British films.