It’s hard to define what makes a movie great. After all, movies can be different for everyone. Some people enjoy action and adventure, while others enjoy rom-coms or family films. There are some films however that transcend their genres and can be enjoyed by every audience. I Swear is one of those movies for everyone. It’s a movie that aims to not only teach tolerance, but to help audiences understand a disease that not many people understand.

When John Davidson (Robert Aramayo) was young he started having ticks. These ticks made him shake his head or punch out uncontrollably. Unfortunately they also caused him to shout out random things. Things that sometimes were highly offensive to the people around him. Flash forward several years, and John is still living at home because he feels that no one would accept or hire him due to his diagnosis of having Tourette’s syndrome. That all changes when he reunites with an old friend, who takes him home to meet his mother Dottie (Maxine Peake). Dottie is a former nurse, who takes John in and helps him launch his life. While the road is not always easy, it’s one that helps John find his destiny.

Films like I Swear walk a very tight rope. On one hand they want to educate you, but it’s very tough to prevent its story from being preachy. Thankfully I Swear educates instead of preaching. It shows you John’s struggles, instead of throwing them in your face. It’s like you are walking beside him instead of watching him. The humour in the film doesn’t feel forced either, which is refreshing. Too many films like I Swear try to make you laugh to handle the hard stuff, instead of allowing you to laugh when things are truly funny.

Of course I Swear wouldn’t work if the acting wasn’t phenomenal. Aramayo made you believe he had Tourette’s, which in part was thanks to having the real John Davidson on set to guide him every step of the way. He won a BAFTA award earlier this year for the role, and it’s very easy to see why. Since the film was released last year overseas it probably won’t be possible for Aramayo to be nominated for an Oscar as well, but we can hope. Peake also does a great job of playing Dottie with the right amount of compassion. Many actresses would have overdone it and gone for the “Oscar” moment, but she stays true to the role from the very first moment you see her on screen.

I Swear is a no doubt crowd pleaser that will benefit from strong word of mouth. It’s the type of film that will show film lovers why they love film in the first place. Don’t wait to see it at home either. While it may not be a special effects laden action film, or a box office smash, it’s the type of film you want to watch with a crowd so you can feel your emotions and learn together. You’ll be glad that you did.