Robert Aramayo and Kirk Jones on I Swear: The Film Changing How We See Tourette’s
Robert Aramayo and Kirk Jones on I Swear: The Film Changing How We See Tourette’s
When director Kirk Jones first became aware of John Davidson’s story in the 1980s, he knew it had the makings of something extraordinary. Decades later, that instinct became I Swear a film that tackles Tourette’s syndrome with equal parts humor, heartbreak, and humanity.
We sat down with Jones and star Robert Aramayo to talk about the creative process, the responsibility of authentic representation, and why this story matters now more than ever
A Story Decades in the Making
For Kirk Jones, the pull toward John Davidson’s story was never just professional, it was personal. Having followed updates on John’s life across multiple decades, Jones watched a man navigate a world that rarely made room for him, and saw in that journey something deeply cinematic.
“There’s such an extraordinary mix of upset and tragedy, but also humour and hope,” Jones said. “Those elements fascinate me as a filmmaker they’re just fun to work with, as opposed to a story that’s plain and predictable.”
What captivated Jones most was the unpredictability of John’s condition. Unlike a romantic comedy or a period piece, where audiences can anticipate what characters might say, Tourette’s blew that convention wide open.
“At any moment, the audience doesn’t know what he’s going to say,” Jones explained. “From a dramatic, comedic, emotional, and even tragic point of view, that’s incredibly exciting to work with.”
Why Robert Aramayo Said Yes
For Aramayo, best known for his work in epic fantasy, I Swear represented something entirely different and that was precisely the point.
“It couldn’t be more different,” he said of the contrast with his previous roles. “Totally different elements, different challenges. Oil and water, really.”
What drew him in was a combination of the creative challenge, the script’s authenticity, and his admiration for Jones’ previous work, including the beloved Waking Ned Devine.
“I knew it was going to be a big challenge,” Aramayo said. “For me, it was a combination of that challenge especially the challenge of authenticity and the appeal of the role.”
The Art of Letting Go
One of the most striking creative decisions behind I Swear was the choice to resist over-choreographing the condition itself. Rather than scripting every tic or mapping out every moment, Jones and Aramayo built their collaboration on trust and spontaneity mirroring the very nature of Tourette’s.
“I never felt like I was directing Rob to tic or have Tourette’s,” Jones said. “That was his thing. I’m too respectful as a director to start telling an actor when to do this or that.”
One of the first questions Aramayo brought to Jones early in their collaboration captures this approach perfectly: “You don’t expect me to tic exactly what you’ve written and exactly where you’ve written it, do you?”
Jones hadn’t explicitly thought about it but the answer was immediately clear. Of course not.
That freedom extended to scenes alongside seasoned actor Peter Mullan, who had no idea what Aramayo might do next. The unpredictability wasn’t a problem to be solved it became one of the film’s greatest strengths.
“The only thing predictable about Tourette’s is that it’s unpredictable,” Aramayo recalled being told during his research. “Kirk and I both saw that as really rich material.”
The Research Behind the Role
Aramayo spent months preparing for the role speaking with people who live with Tourette’s, studying the condition, and immersing himself in its reality. What he found was a profound gap in public understanding.
“There’s a total lack of education around Tourette’s,” he said. “There are so many misconceptions and misunderstandings. The movie tries to get people thinking about it differently.”
That shift in perspective, he hopes, will extend beyond the theater. Whether it’s prompting a Google search or sparking a conversation, the goal is simple: get people curious enough to learn more.
The Moment That Says It All
Perhaps the most powerful testament to the film’s impact came during a test screening in London. An audience member told Jones that had they seen someone like John Davidson on their way to the cinema that evening, they would have changed train carriages to avoid him.
After watching I Swear, that same person said they would now smile and engage instead.
“That was an incredibly moving thing to hear,” Jones said.
It’s exactly the kind of ripple effect both Jones and Aramayo were hoping for not just a film people enjoy, but one that rewires how they move through the world.
Going the Extra Mile
When we asked both men what going the extra mile means to them, their answers were telling.
For Aramayo, it comes down to passion and hard work the kind that’s contagious on set and raises everyone around you. “I love taking it seriously,” he said, nodding to the dedication of the entire crew behind I Swear.
For Jones, it’s simpler and harder. “It’s never giving up,” he said. “Going the extra mile means not stopping until you’re truly satisfied that you’ve done the most you can do.”
Watch the trailer for I Swear below
Blue Fox Entertainment Canada will release I SWEAR throughout most of Canada, with Immina Films handling distribution in Quebec, while Sony Pictures Classics is releasing the film in the U.S.
I SWEAR is set to arrive in select theatres across North America on April 24, 2026.