FILM REVIEW: I SWEAR (15) ESP RATING: 5/5

A small film with a big heart – and one that’ll stay with you long after the credits roll.

I took my mum to see I Swear, and before the lights dimmed, I warned her there would probably be tears based on what I’d seen in the trailer.

There were indeed tears. Lots of them. Not just from us, but from several people around the room. But there was laughter too – and gasps – the kind of emotional ‘ebb and flow’ that only a film truly in tune with its audience can pull off.

Directed by Kirk Jones, this Scottish-based biographical drama tells the story of John Davidson, a man living with Tourette’s syndrome, played with extraordinary warmth by Robert Aramayo (probably best-known for playing Elrond in TV series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power). His performance is layered and human, never leaning into cliché or pity. Around him, the strong supporting cast – Shirley Henderson, Maxine Peake, Peter Mullan – form a believable, quietly powerful ensemble that grounds the story in real emotion.

What struck me most was how the film handles its tone. It finds that delicate balance between heart, humour and heartbreak – the kind of mix British cinema does so well. At times, it kind of reminded me of The Full Monty, where laughter and tears often arrive in the same breath.

I came away feeling like I’d learned something – not just about the condition itself, but about kindness, resilience, and the small mercies that carry us through hard days.

This is one movie that deserves your attention – I swear by it.

ESP Rating: 5/5

Mike Clarke

Showcase Cinema De Lux Peterborough & Odeon Luxe Peterborough, Out Now

Cast: Robert Aramayo, Maxine Peake, Shirley Henderson & Peter Mullan

Running Time: 2 Hrs

Director: Kirk Jones

Film Review Venue: Showcase Cinema De Lux Peterborough

For all the latest film information & showtimes at Peterborough’s Showcase Cinema De Lux & Odeon Luxe cinemas go to www.showcasecinemas.co.uk and www.odeon.co.uk