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What might religious leaders participate in in their own leisure hours? Not long ago, this writer went accompanied by two companions, both fellow pastors, to see the recently released picture called I Swear. Based on the trailer, I understood that the film centered on an individual diagnosed with TS. However, what the author didn’t understand was that it was based on an actual individual: the subject, who starred in a previous 1989 program and was awarded a royal honor in recognition of his work to educate people regarding the condition and support others with TS.

Learning About Tourette's

Before that film, many individuals had never known about Tourette syndrome. Almost four decades afterwards, most individuals sort of knows what it is, yet it remains viewed as comic material – notably in comedy shows.

From the teaser, it seemed that the film aimed to balance through both using the obvious funny moments from someone yelling the most inappropriate phrases at unexpected moments while also attempting to continue the protagonist's mission of raising awareness in a tactful and considerate way. Hopefully this isn't revealing too much to state it succeeded in achieving both goals – however naturally I only knew that by the end.

A Startling Theater Incident

As the movie began, a youth seated ahead nearby unexpectedly shouted out a series of obscenities. Initially, it seemed it was a gag – although one highly inappropriate. However, it was soon evident which this was someone genuinely diagnosed with TS: an adolescent alongside his father.

While the story unfolded, the same with the teenager – with no visible intervention from either the parent or anyone in the theater. This led to slightly divided. Clearly, this represented a significant event for the boy and his father to experience the undoubtedly very tough life depicted in a film, and I felt glad that they received this experience. Yet was it OK that I and everyone else in the auditorium could hardly hear the audio because of this? Would the venue have been able to put on a dedicated session – as many cinemas regularly do for those with conditions in general?

A Moral Conflict

It's regrettable to admit which I really thought about complaining – not to the parent personally (I’m not heartless), but to the theater management of the theatre. Yet, both of the author's evidently more compassionate fellow vicars had resigned themselves to the events. Plus, lurking in my thoughts was the imagined but impactful incident from Extras where a character's the protagonist objects about a child making too much noise during a meal, not realizing that the child has special needs. He faced backlash the ensuing negative attention – so my objection would have been even more inappropriate since I was aware the individual literally was unable to control it.

A Profound Experience

Luckily, my conscience prevailed then an amazing thing happened over the following film duration. First, I gradually became accustomed to the previously bothersome sounds. Then, when the movie built to a peak and viewers witnessed the deeply freeing influence that Davidson’s support groups have had on so many people, I felt awed and extremely fortunate to be sharing this moment alongside individuals who had real experience not just portrayed on screen – even though Robert Aramayo’s acting as the character was excellent , personally, Oscar-caliber.

I’ve had similar experiences at the movies before – viewing The King’s Speech alongside an acquaintance with a speech impediment and their language pathologist wife, or encountering real ex-soldiers of World War II in the foyer after Saving Private Ryan – but that experience was on another level. It resembled a 4D screening, but instead of motion seats or sprays of water touching viewers, the characters were present next to you stating, “This isn’t just a film. It reflects my life.” And then cursing. Spunk for milk.

A Positive Resolution

So I didn’t complain. When the film ended, I even went and thanked the young man – aged 14 – along with the parent, guardian, for the honor of their presence, that without a doubt made our experience even more profound compared to what we expected. Next conversed at length and snapped a photo with everyone – at that moment we all yelled an expletive in solidarity with the boy.

Final Thoughts

I would strongly encourage all viewers to watch this remarkable production , if you have the chance to be in the same theater with an individual with TS, {don’t be a nim