Film

Official Trailer for Scottish Film ‘I Swear’ About Living with Tourette’s

by Alex Billington
October 24, 2025
Source: YouTube

“Find your voice. Speak the truth.” Transmission Films has debuted an official trailer for the Scottish film titled I Swear, which is already playing in UK cinemas now. This film about a young man with Tourette’s premiered at TIFF last month and already hit theaters early in October in the UK + Ireland only so far. From acclaimed director Kirk Jones (of Waking Ned Devine, Nanny McPhee, Everybody’s Fine, What to Expect When You’re Expecting) and based on a true story. Diagnosed with Tourette’s syndrome at age 15, John Davidson faced and overcame many hardships from adolescence and into early adulthood as a result of what was a little known and entirely misunderstood condition in 1980s Britain. I Swear is a funny, heartfelt and moving account of John’s experiences. It also shows the process of the securing & filming of the 1989 TV documentary John’s Not Mad, at a time when his Tourette’s condition was barely identifiable. Starring actor Robert Aramayo (who also plays Elrond in The Rings of Power) as John, with Peter Mullan, Maxine Peake, Shirley Henderson, Paul Donnelly, and Scott Ellis Watson. This looks like a good discovery – a coming-of-age story wrapped up in a tale of what life is like with Tourette’s. Check out the footage below.

Here’s the main official trailer (+ poster) for Kirk Jones’ film I Swear, direct from YouTube:

Intro via TIFF: Based on an inspirational true story, I Swear charts the remarkable journey of a Scottish man whose life was irrevocably changed by the sudden onset of Tourette’s syndrome. A bright, funny, football-mad lad with everything ahead of him, 15-year-old John Davidson’s life seemingly splinters in 1983 when he develops uncontrollable vocal & physical tics when Tourette’s was barely understood, even by doctors. Feeling ostracized by the world around him — including his family — he retreats into years of relative isolation, burdened by the anxiety, shame, and loneliness… Everything shifts when John (now in his late 20s) meets Dottie, no-nonsense mother of a former schoolmate, who has recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer. The bond that forms between them is as unexpected as it is life-changing. With her fierce encouragement & unwavering support, John finds belonging, purpose, and confidence to be himself.

I Swear is written and directed by BAFTA-nominated British filmmaker Kirk Jones, director of the films Waking Ned Devine, Nanny McPhee, Everybody’s Fine, What to Expect When You’re Expecting, and My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 previously. It’s produced by Georgia Bayliff, Piers Tempest, and Kirk Jones. This recently premiered at the 2025 Toronto Film Festival playing within their Centerpiece selection. Studiocanal already released Jones’ I Swear in UK + Irish cinemas starting October 10th, 2025 this fall. It’s already playing in cinemas now. No US release date is set yet – stay tuned for updates. Anyone want to watch this?

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