Hash Import 2026 05 18 12 34

I Swear (2025)

★★★★½ — I Swear (2025)

Kirk Jones, the British director best known for the warmly received Waking Ned (1998) and the later Hollywood family pictures Nanny McPhee Returns (2010) and Everybody's Fine (2009), returns to his roots here with a modestly budgeted British-Irish co-production backed by StudioCanal UK. I Swear is adapted from the real-life story of Jonny Davidson, a man diagnosed with Tourette syndrome in his mid-teens, and arrives during a period of renewed interest in neurodiverse narratives on both the big and small screen. Robert Aramayo, familiar to many from his television work, takes the lead role alongside established British character actors Maxine Peake and Peter Mullan, the latter two lending the kind of credibility that smaller personal films depend on.

I Swear is a quietly powerful, deeply human film that transcends the biopic format to deliver something rare: an authentic, unsentimental, and profoundly moving portrait of resilience. Based on the real-life story of Jonny Davidson (a man living with Tourette syndrome) the film avoids cliché and inspiration porn, instead grounding its narrative in raw honesty, everyday struggle, and quiet triumphs. The lead performance is nothing short of astonishing. The actor not only captures the physicality and vocal tics of Tourette’s with remarkable accuracy and respect, but also channels Jonny’s spirit, his humor, frustration, vulnerability, and unwavering determination, with such nuance that at times it feels less like acting and more like witnessing the real man himself. The uncanny resemblance to the actual Jonny Davidson adds another layer of authenticity, making the story feel immediate and intimate. What elevates I Swear beyond “just” a disability drama is its refusal to define Jonny solely by his condition. The film explores his relationships, his dreams, his setbacks, and his small victories with empathy and restraint. It doesn’t shy away from the pain, moments of public humiliation, internalized shame, and systemic misunderstanding hit hard, but it also finds joy in connection, perseverance, and self-acceptance. Brilliantly acted, emotionally resonant, and ultimately inspiring without being manipulative. This isn’t a story about overcoming Tourette’s; it’s about living fully with it. A testament to human dignity, and a reminder that courage often looks like simply showing up, day after day. I Swear doesn’t just tell Jonny’s story, it honors it.

Rating: ★★★★½ | Year: 2025 | Watched: 2026-01-30

View on Letterboxd →

Where to watch (UK)

Stream: Netflix · Netflix Standard with Ads
Rent: Apple TV Store · Rakuten TV · Amazon Video · Sky Store
Buy: Apple TV Store · Rakuten TV · Amazon Video · Sky Store
Physical: Amazon UK

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