Cinema review - I swear

photo credit - P. Smith

Based on reality, this film portrays the life story of a man named John Davidson.  Set in Scotland, the borders region - John was a regular teenager starting high school however what happened to him was irregular, baffling and turned his life upside down. The name of his condition is ‘tourette's syndrome’. The medical name is from the French physicist and neurologist who worked with patients in the early 1900’s.  

As we learn about John back in the eighties, we discover at first a confident and friendly lad who has the courage to ask a young girl out for a date and she says yes. As we watch John starting to have tics and in the first stages of his condition he is quickly robbed of his easy going personality as the symptoms worsen and the fragile adolescent is found in a local river and hospitalized. 

We can only observe and guess what may have brought on the condition - certainly environmental factors can play a role in the onset.  John had a few things going on at once - a football trial where he wishes his dad’s approval. He is under some pressure to perform as a competent goalie however he has been punished at school for a tourette's related outburst at the headmaster, of all people. His hand which has been subjected to the ‘strap’ hinders his progress at football.

The film does not shy away from the utter devastation that John suffered and indeed the people around him who care - the language is strong, offensive in meaning but not intention and destructive to his own well-being as he navigates himself apologising to others constantly, for something out of his control.

Fortunately John meets with an old friend whose mother takes an interest in John and his agony with his condition and she mentors him and he eventually moves in with this family, where Dottie shrugs off his swearing and insults and encourages him on to independence and a job. We feel for his mother whom he visits less often and who takes a back seat to Dottie, a specialist nurse.

What is really hard hitting about this story was the lack of understanding about tourettes and the assumption being that John was playing the 'clown' or simply being provocative.  His boss, when he obtains a position of caretaker, sums up a profile of John, as he makes it very clear that John's behaviour is very much involuntary. He routes for the man who has been in a spot of trouble and ends up in a court room. 

The lack of understanding in the earlier days is a stark contrast to more modern times - where he receives a medal from her majesty The Queen for his recent work of educating others about the condition and also forming links with fellow sufferers. Some scenes are heartwarming and others are harrowing. 

The sad and painful reality is projected as well as the reaching out of others which was pivotal to John being recognised as someone battling a debilitating illness. 

Certainly the man is an advocate in the domain of support and informing about the harsh day to day encounters with tourettes but there is hope!  When he is teaching we can sense a more serene man and his expertise is very much demanded.  This film is a gem and an emotional watch which portrays illness in the context of society and the journey towards a more profound comprehension of tourette's. Impressive performances all around.