Caught the story about those three vicars who went to the film house – and got educated an important insight in understanding?
Which activities do clergy members engage in during their own spare time? Not long ago, I went accompanied by two friends, each fellow pastors, to view a new movie called I Swear. Based on its trailer, I knew that the film was about an individual experiencing Tourette syndrome. What I didn’t realize turned out to be that it chronicled a true-life figure: John Davidson, who appeared in a 1989 film who later earned a royal honor for his efforts to inform people regarding the condition and assist others with TS.
Understanding TS
Before that documentary, the majority had never known about TS. Nearly 40 years later, everybody sort of recognizes the basics, but it’s still seen as a punchline – especially within the comedy circuit.
Based on the trailer, it was evident which the production intended to walk a fine line by both capitalising on the undeniable humorous aspects of someone shouting highly offensive phrases during inopportune times and working to continue the protagonist's mission in raising awareness in a respectful and sensitive manner. Hopefully it’s not revealing too much to say it managed in both aspects – however naturally I only knew that by the end.
A Startling Theater Incident
As the movie began, a teenager seated in the row of us suddenly exclaimed a series of curse words. At first, it seemed this was a gag – albeit a joke quite offensive. But, it quickly became apparent which here was an actual individual diagnosed with TS: a young man alongside a parent.
While the movie continued, so did the boy – and there was no apparent intervention by either his father or anybody among the viewers. I felt somewhat torn. Obviously, this represented a significant event for this family to see the undoubtedly extremely challenging daily reality portrayed in cinema, and it was positive which they got this experience. But was it acceptable if we along with other viewers in the auditorium could hardly hear the audio as a result? Would the cinema have been able to organize an exclusive showing – as most of the chains regularly do for neurodiverse people in general?
An Ethical Struggle
I’m ashamed to confess that I really thought about raising the issue – not to the parent personally (I’m not heartless), but to the theater management of the theatre. Yet, both of the author's clearly kinder colleagues appeared to accepted with what was happening. Moreover, I recalled there was an admittedly fictional incident in Extras when Ricky Gervais’s Andy Millman protests about a young person being disruptive in a restaurant, not realizing that he has Down’s syndrome. He barely survived the subsequent bad press – and my offence would have been far worse because I knew the boy simply couldn’t help it.
An Eye-Opening Realization
Thankfully, my conscience won over and an amazing thing happened during the next hour and a half. First, I simply got used to the previously bothersome sounds. Later, as the movie built to a peak and the audience observed the profoundly empowering impact which the protagonist's support groups provided for so many people, I experienced awed as well as deeply honored to experience this moment with those with firsthand knowledge not just as actors – even though Robert Aramayo’s portrayal as Davidson stood out and in my view, award-worthy.
I’ve had comparable situations at the movies in the past – watching The King’s Speech with an acquaintance with a stammer and his language pathologist spouse, alternatively encountering real ex-soldiers from D-Day after the show after Saving Private Ryan – yet that experience was in a different league. It resembled an immersive experience, however instead of the chairs moving about and splashes touching viewers, the people were sitting next to you stating, “This isn’t just a movie. It’s my reality.” Then using foul language. A memorable line.
An Uplifting Conclusion
Therefore I refrained from objecting. When the credits rolled, I actually went and thanked the teenager – aged fourteen – along with Mark, dad, for the privilege of sharing the space, that without a doubt enriched the film deeper compared to what we expected. We then conversed at length and took a selfie together – when we all yelled an expletive alongside the young man.
Final Thoughts
I would strongly encourage all viewers to go and see this excellent movie , should you’re lucky enough to end up sharing the cinema with an individual with TS, {don’t be a nim
