I Swear

What’s it about?

A biopic of John Davidson, a Scottish man navigating life with severe Tourette’s Syndrome. The film tells Davidson's life story from a misunderstood teenager in the 1980s to current-day activist, going against the odds and finding inspiration in the kindness of others to discover his true purpose in life.

The facts 

• Directed by Kirk Jones (What to Expect When You’re Expecting)
• Starring Robert Aremayo (The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power), Maxine Peake (Say Nothing), Shirley Henderson (Dept. Q), and Peter Mullan (The Bombing of Pan Am 103)
• English language 
• Runtime: 115 minutes

Why did it get this rating? 

This film was classified by Te Mana Whakaatu, Classification Office. You can find out more about classification process and ratings here.

An RP13 rating means it’s restricted to persons 13 years and over unless accompanied by a parent or guardian.

The following information breaks down the show’s content warnings. It does not mention any character names or delve into plot points. If necessary, we occasionally include minor spoilers to help keep audiences informed about what they are watching, especially when it comes to suicide.

Suicide themes

There are verbal references to suicidal thoughts, and a scene when the main character tries to end his life by walking into a lake, but he is rescued.

Violence

In one scene, a character unintentionally hits a dog due to a tic, and the dog yelps. We immediately see the dog afterwards, wagging its tail, showing that it’s unharmed.

A character gets attacked, involving being hit with a crowbar, kicked and punched, and knocked unconscious. He ends up in hospital with bruises and swelling on his face and body.

Two boys fight in a school playground.

Offensive language and sexual references

Much of the offensive language should be understood in the context of Tourette’s Syndrome, which manifests in involuntarily tics. The character with Tourette’s says the following:

• When he is a teenager, he shouts “suck my d*ck” to a teenage girl.
• He calls a woman a “sl*t”.
• He references rape and pedophilia.
• He says “f*ck” a lot, as well as “c*nt”, “sh*t”, “b*tch”, and “*sshole”.
• He uses the slurs “sp*z”, “r*tard”, the n-word, and “f*g”.

Helplines

The suicide themes and references to sexual violence could be upsetting for some viewers, especially for those who have gone through similar experiences. If you are struggling with what you have seen on-screen, please reach out for help. If you or someone you know needs to talk:

• 1737
• Safe to talk
• Lifeline
• Youthline

Further information 

• Why are ratings and content warnings important for me and my whānau?