I Swear review and explainer — how a feelgood film about life with Tourette’s is reshaping conversation

The latest wave of attention around i swear follows strong critical praise calling it an "astonishing feelgood film about life with Tourette’s" and a renewed public focus on what Tourette syndrome is and how it affects people. This moment matters because the film’s reception has coincided with an awards milestone and the republishing of an explainer that outlines the condition’s key features and lived experience.

I Swear — the film and its reception

Critical response summarized the film as an astonishing feelgood portrait of life with Tourette’s, a description that has driven wider interest in the condition. The film’s prominence has been amplified by an awards outcome: Robert Aramayo won the Bafta for best actor for his portrayal of a Tourette syndrome campaigner in I Swear. That victory prompted a republication of a prior explainer to help readers understand the condition depicted on screen.

What is Tourette syndrome

Tourette syndrome is defined in the republished explainer as a neurological or neurodevelopmental condition named after 19th-century researcher Gilles de la Tourette. It is characterised by tics, which are involuntary movements or vocalisations. The explainer notes an official definition: motor and vocal tics occurring nearly every day over more than 12 months.

Types of tics and how they present

There are two primary categories of tics: motor tics and vocal tics. Common motor tics often involve the head and neck; the contextual material lists that motor tics can involve those regions but leaves specific examples unclear in the provided context. In more severe presentations, people may have complex tics or orchestrated sequences of movements. Examples given of complex tics include turning in a certain direction or tapping something a certain number of times. These sequences are often completed because they relieve internal tension for the person experiencing them.

Premonitory urges, onset and course

The explainer describes a "premonitory urge" that precedes many tics: a sensation like an itch or the feeling experienced before a sneeze. There is a build-up of tension that is relieved by the expression of the tic, and people are often able to recognise this feeling prior to the tic—an aspect noted as important for tic management. Typical onset is in childhood, usually in the early primary school years, though onset can occasionally occur later in life. The condition often follows a waxing and waning course: there may be periods where tics are not noticed for weeks or even months and then return.

Triggers and real-world examples

Tics can worsen in response to stressors. The explainer cites stressors such as the start of a new school term or moving house as examples of triggers that can make tics worse. It also notes that tics sometimes get worse for no identifiable reason. A contemporary anecdote included in the context illustrates how symptoms can flare: fans of singer Lewis Capaldi helped him finish a song at a concert after symptoms of his Tourette syndrome suddenly flared up and temporarily prevented him from performing.

Context of the republished explainer and site notes

The explanatory article was originally published on February 24, 2023, and has been republished following the film’s awards attention. Practical site notes present in the original context are also included: notifications can be managed in browser preferences; refreshing the page or navigating to another page on the site can be necessary to be automatically logged in, and users may be prompted to refresh their browser to be logged in. There is also an opt-in option for email about offers, events and updates, alongside a reference to a Privacy notice.

What to watch next

As I Swear continues to attract attention, the combination of a warmly framed review and an accessible explainer serves to broaden public recognition of Tourette syndrome’s features and variability. The republished explainer and the film’s awards profile have created an opportunity for informed discussion about tics, premonitory urges, triggers and the daily experience of people with the condition. Details that remain unclear in the provided context should be explored through dedicated medical guidance and firsthand accounts.