When this finally opens in America, will audiences be ready to receive this story on Tourette’s? for the UK audience, they were treated to i swear, the biopic of John Davidson, a Scottish man who struggled with Tourette’s his whole life, including for a period in his youth and early years when it wasn’t a recognized disability, and he often suffered greatly as a result. UK audiences responded quite well, where it made 6.3 million pounds in the UK. That puts it ahead of Emma Stone’s Bugonia *(4.1 million pounds), but just below something like 28 Years Later, which made 7.7 in the UK. That would mean if we aren’t assholes, I Swear would make more than the 16 million of Bugonia, but also not surpass the 70 million of 28 years Later. Who is placing bets?

The UK audience happpily welcomed this film at BAFTA, awarding its lead, Robert Aramayo with the Best Actor prize, as well as an additional two supporting nominations for the ensemble, including Peter Mullen, a character actor who has been nominated three times at the BAFTAS, and I’m not sure he’s ever gotten even close to an Oscar nomination. He’s been recognized for his TV work across The Underground Railroad and ozark, but not for classics like Braveheart, War Horse, Trainspotting, or Shallow Grave. I really enjoyed his work in The film The Claim, which capitalized on Wes Bentley’s rising star status, and set up Peter Mullen as a solid character actor to watch. we just never did.

So now Sony Pictures Classics has the task of putting I swear out for American audiences. These are the audiences that saw an unedited BAFTA broadcast, saw clips from the ceremony online, and the reactions from the industry and actors about what should have happened, and calling Davidson a racist. if only there was a film that explained this condition, and what living with it was like. Mind you, this film didn’t reach the public because Davidson is well known for anything else, because he’s not. he isn’t an athlete, he didn’t earn a heroic medal in a war, he didn’t invent something that changed the world, he just has Tourette’s. That story, his experience, resilience, and determination to educate others on Tourette’s was considered inspirational enough to warrant a film adaptation to begin with, all the other accolades notwithstanding.

So, the film community ran into a bit of an issue, what happens when ableism and racism collide, and suddenly, the answer isn’t easy, it demands nuance and empathy, broadly, intelligently, across the board. Well, that never happened. Not even close. Even though many questioned why the moment wasn’t edited out, despite the BAFTA producers having no qualms silencing Free Palestine supporters, and also putting microphones likely a little too close to Davidson, he was still blamed for a lot, leading to several conversations suggesting perhaps he should just stay home.

Man, i feel that all the time. The pull to just leave the world behind, because it is so much easier when I’m at home, not feeling judged for my disability, or wondering who is watching me if/when II make some silly mistake I wouldn’t have made if I could still see. I hate to spoil the surprise, but if you clicked on a review from a blind film critic, and expected I’d be going negative on I swear, which already has an absurdly Fresh score on rotten tomatoes, you’re dead wrong. I swear is inspirational, because it shows the adversity Davidson faced, and his continued perseverance in living. It admits he did try to take his own life when he was young, but also shows attempts by others to put him in the ground through violent fist fights that end with Davidson hospitalized.

his story is strengthened by a few adults who rise above, each in their own little way, to offer John the support he needs. His mother stands with him, even as his dad does not. He is later taken in by a nurse who is more aware of Tourette’s, and helps John get better acquainted with the real world, so he can live his own life. Then, he has a boss, who proudly stands up for John when he needs it the most.

It’s like Davidson wanted to make sure to thank the right people along the way, refusing to say his journey was his alone, and acknowledging he got where he is because of the empathy of a few who saw past his disability, and gave him the understanding he required to move forward. It’s a terrific film, and had I Swear opened last year, I’d be hard pressed to not consider it for Best Picture and Actor, at a bare minimum.

Yes, I’ve encountered a few disability centric films that hit the sweet spot a bit more than I Swear, most being documentaries.If I was forced at gunpoint to criticize this film, I would say that his advocacy section is a bit pushed through, and as a result, by the time he gets his special recognition from the Queen, I’m honestly not fully sure how she even knew he existed. It isn’t my disability, but he is said to be a leading advocate in the field. In many ways, I do work as a blind advocate quite a lot, and my name is out there in the world. But if i appear at the White House tomorrow, you’re probably going to feel like I missed a step.

Do yourself a favor and check out this uplifting biopic, I swear you won’t regret it.

Fresh: 8.9/10