I Swear (Dir: Kirk Jones. UK, 2025). This is exactly the kind of film our “Don’t Sleep On…” section was created for. I Swear is a poignant, deeply affecting drama that never slips into cheap sentimentality and leaves you wiser than when you walked in.

It can also make you livid when you consider the shameful treatment of the man who inspired the film, courtesy of the American press covering the BAFTAs last February.

But I’m getting ahead of myself.

I Swear chronicles the formative years of John Davidson, a Scottish advocate for people affected by Tourette Syndrome, a neurological condition characterized by motor and vocal tics. Contrary to popular belief, the involuntary outbursts of obscene or offensive language most commonly associated with the disorder are actually rare, though they are part of Davidson’s condition.

If people living with Tourette’s still face ridicule today, imagine what it was like in the early 1980s. When John (career-making performance by Robert Aramayo) first begins exhibiting symptoms of the disorder, he is treated not as someone in need of help, but as a troublemaker bent on causing chaos. His peers, teachers, and even his parents dismiss him with contempt rather than compassion. After years of enduring scorn instead of sympathy, Davidson encounters a psychiatric nurse (Maxine Peake) who encourages him to pursue a normal life and recognize his own potential.

Realizing that isolation can be more devastating than the condition itself, Davidson builds a community and dedicates his life to spreading awareness, a mission that likely saved countless lives. I Swear keeps John’s story firmly grounded, which is why the film soars in its closing moments, when his advocacy work lands him in Holyrood Palace to receive an MBE from the Queen.

John’s story is ultimately about escaping an impossible situation and using what you’ve learned to help others do the same. That is also why the controversy surrounding this year’s BAFTAs was so upsetting. Davidson was vilified after involuntarily uttering a racial slur while Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were presenting an award, and far too little consideration was given to his condition (Jamie Foxx commented Davidson must have “meant that sh*t”). It was a cruel reminder that, despite the progress made toward understanding neurodivergence, society still has a long way to go. ★★★★½

I Swear is still playing in Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal.