Florida's Film, Television and the Arts Magazine
I Swear - Florida Film Festival Movie Review
You have ONE chance to see this award-winning docudrama at the Florida Film Festival: Monday, April 13th at 6:30 at Regal Winter Park. Don’t let the opportunity pass you by.
Any film that starts with a tune by New Order is an instant banger in my book. Based on the life of John Davidson, a man who has been living with Tourette’s since 1983, I Swear swept the BAFTA film awards including Best Actor for the star, Robert Aramayo. Yes, it was during that award ceremony that Davidson yelled out racial slurs while in the audience. You might have heard about that.
Yes, that was highly disturbing. Probably equally disturbing was when Davidson said “F the Queen” while attending his own MBE ceremony, hosted by the Queen Mother herself. When she heard that outburst, she just smiled and moved on.Grace under pressure.
Davidson’s outbursts are uncontrollable. Not being educated in the hows and whys of Tourette’s, I don’t know if those with the uncurable lifetime illness are spouting out things they’re thinking but simply don’t have the ability to stop before the words emerge, or if there’s another reason.I can tell you that Aramayo’s portrayal is astounding. His entire being is committed to the role.
Applause is required as well for Scott Ellis Watson, who portrays Davidson when the symptoms first broke the surface at 15 years of age. The embarrassment, the confusion, with no one able to understand or to whom he can confide. Especially not his family and school, who punish him mercilessly. Imagine not being able to enter a library, because you can’t control what you might shout out. Watson seamlessly melds the transition of his character to Aramayo’s character, without a hiccup.
There are many wonderful actors in the film including Peter Mullan, Shirley Henderson and Maxine Peake.They each have their own stories to tell, and I Swear allows that to happen. Filled with humor but without a hint of pathos, as Davidson never asks for pity, never gives any excuses, just explains and moves on, you need to experience I Swear. https://floridafilmfestival.com/films
