I Swear (2025) Dir: Kirk Jones

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I have not been too bothered about the huge numbers of biopics that have been produced in the last few years - I tend to find they lack a purpose, beyond telling the inevitably chaotic and unhealthy stories of what are usually white men who made it big in their industry and acted like horrible people half the time. With that said, this independent effort, a British biopic from director Kirk Jones, really seemed to have an important message to share. It tells the story of a man called John, who lives with Tourette Syndrome, and the challenges he faced, as well as what he made of himself in spite of them. This alone was more than enough to entice me in.

This was a classically British biopic, full of sentimentality, nostalgic fashion, and authentic feeling characters. I think the thing about the film that stood out the most from a visual perspective was John's blue tracksuit, which was highly typical of the 90's Northern working class brit-pop craze of Great Britain at the time. British social realism, and films based in working class society, often seem to emulate the feel of Britain so much more than others.

The narrative was compelling, emotional, and honestly a pleasure to watch. The writing was captivating, the characters felt real, and the pacing was very smooth. I thought it was a wonderful idea to shine a light on what has been a heavily mocked, stereotyped, and generally misconstrued condition. And who better to symbolise this and depict on-screen than the man who not only had Tourette Syndrome, but did so much to help the public perception and understanding of it. Even then, I found this film to be fairly enlightening - I can certainly imagine it would be for those with little or no knowledge of it.

Robert Aramayo's portrayal of a man living with Tourette Syndrome was sincere, thought provoking, naturally amusing, and evidently well-researched. Aramayo gave so much effort and respect to his role, which really paid-off, in what amounted to be a wonderfully endearing performance - one I have no doubt will attract BAFTA attention come awards season. I should also give a warm mention to Scott Ellis Watson, whose own portrayal of the younger John was just as committed and emotive, and deserves heaps of praise in its own right.

Maxine Peake gave a face and a voice to a character I think everyone could love - a warm, compassionate, and deeply empathetic individual - something emphasised all the more by Peake's likable and believable acting. She felt so close to what her character was; a caring mother and friend. Her on-screen chemistry with Aramayo was also very refreshing, and allowed her scenes with him to feel even more heartwarming.

The duo of Shirley Henderson and Peter Mullan also deserve plenty of praise for their respective supporting roles. I really loved the body language of Henderson in particular - her stiff and up-tight acting told the audience so much of what they needed to know about her character, it was genuinely quite impressive. Conversely, the relaxed and friendly persona provided by Mullan was highly likable, particularly when combined with the jovial nature of Aramayo's character.

Overall, I thought this informed little independent film was as delightful as it was important. Not only did it convey an earnest and informative message, but it did so in an entertaining way, with enjoyable characters, genuine emotions, and more than a little comedy. Films like this reaffirm my love of independent cinema, as well as independent creative storytelling. I highly recommend this one, especially for fans of British indie films.