Last night I went to see I Swear at a little independent cinema in town with a friend. I think we went to see it because this friend has discount cinema tickets.

I really didn’t know what to expect.

It follows the real life of John Davidson, who develops tourettes shortly before his teenage years begin. He gets horrendously bullied at school by fellow pupils and the staff.

The story leaps ahead to him making friends with the family of an old school friend – the friend’s mum takes a real shine to John and she offers him the love and support that he had lacked for all his life. Getting him a job and a flat and bailing him out of jail when he accidentally knocks a guy’s drink over causing a fight.

This film was full of surprises. I laughed out loud lots,  but the biggest surprise was that it made me cry.

I cared about John… and, despite not having tourettes myself, I could relate to him.

I don’t remember the last film that made me cry. My husband said that I wasn’t empathetic.

I think there were a few things that made me connect with the film.

Firstly, the separation from my husband gave me space to feel things – and start to express those feelings. I think that the enormity of his emotions didn’t give me space to have my own.

I also feel that I connected with his neuro-divergence. His really was socially crippling, whereas mine just makes communication difficult – yet the highly visible and frustrating efforts at masking and trying to fit in were highly relatable.

Towards the end of the film, John finds his purpose in life: helping others with tourettes accept themselves, and helping society accept them.

I believe that there are people for whom this film will be life-changing. I hope more people get to see this brilliant film.

I left the cinema wanting to share the impact that this film had on me – realising that there is space now for my own feelings and that I can connect deeply with those of other people.