I Swear

Synopsis

In 1983, John Davidson is a teenager living in Galashiels, a small town in the Scottish Borders. After transitioning to secondary school and adjusting to his new surroundings, John begins to develop verbal and physical tics which are displayed both at home and in the classroom. These symptoms leave his teachers, classmates, and family bemused, initially believing John to be acting out deliberately for attention. This causes him to struggle at his football trials and sees him physically punished by the headmaster, while his mum forces him to eat separately from the rest of the family at home. 13 years later, the narrative picks up with John as an adult still living at home with his mother – with the rest of his family having left – but striving for independence. When he bumps into an old childhood friend whose mother is a mental health nurse, John begins to receive the care, attention, and support he so dearly needs. ‘I Swear’ is a moving and inspiring account of John’s life and the campaigning he would become known for which led to him receiving an MBE for his work in 2019.