I Swear | Coombe Keynes Church

I Swear

Director: Kirk Jones
Writers: Kirk Jones
Actors: Robert Aramayo, Scott Ellis Watson, Maxine Peake, Shirley Henderson, Peter Mullan
Rating: 15
Drama | Biography | Comedy | UK | 2025 | 2 hrs 1 min

John Davidson’s life is governed by a rhythm he did not choose. Growing up in 1980s Scotland, he battles a condition that the world, and often his own body, does not understand. From the harsh discipline of his teachers to the bewildered stares of strangers, I Swear captures the exhausting, unpredictable, and isolating reality of living with Tourette’s syndrome. 

The film is a profoundly heartwarming story of resilience and human connection. At its centre is an extraordinary, career-defining performance from Robert Aramayo. He brings a raw, lived-in honesty to John, balancing the volatility of his condition with a quiet, stubborn tenderness that makes his journey toward self-acceptance deeply moving. The film excels in the spaces between the chaos -the triumphs, the unwavering support of friends, and the unexpected humour that serves as a vital survival mechanism. 

When a family friend finally sees past the symptoms, a window opens, offering John a path to claim his place in the world. Aramayo’s magnetic presence ensures that John is a character to be championed, not pitied. I Swear is a triumphant, tear-inducing celebration of the grit required to forge an identity on one’s own terms. 

Davidson’s involuntary tics at the 2026 BAFTAs where the film was being honoured, left many struggling to reconcile their reactions to an event they didn't fully comprehend, and the subsequent fallout served to highlight the very misunderstandings and social barriers the film so bravely confronts. 

Sausage Hot Pot Supper available in the church from 6.15pm - please pre-book above.

Bar open on the night.