Heard the story about the three pastors who went into a movie theater – and were taught an important insight on tolerance?

Which activities might clergy members participate in during their free time? Not long ago, this writer went with a couple of colleagues, both fellow vicars, to see the recently released film called I Swear. Based on the teaser, I understood that the film focused on a man living with Tourette's. What the author had not understand turned out to be the fact it chronicled a true-life figure: John Davidson, that appeared in a late eighties program and earned a royal honor in recognition of their work to inform people regarding this syndrome as well as help others with TS.

Exploring Tourette's

Before this documentary, the majority had never known about TS. Nearly 40 years later, people sort of understands its nature, but it is often viewed as a joke – particularly within comedy shows.

From the trailer, it appeared that the production was going to try to balance by both leveraging the obvious comic potential from someone yelling socially awkward things during unexpected moments while also working to further the protagonist's work in educating the public through a compassionate approach. It is hoped it’s not a spoiler to say it managed in both aspects – but naturally this realization came after watching.

An Unexpected Theater Incident

When the movie began, a teenager seated in the row of us unexpectedly shouted out a string of profanities. Initially, I thought it was a joke – albeit one highly inappropriate. But, it soon became clear which this was a real-life person diagnosed with Tourette's: a young man alongside his father.

While the film unfolded, the same with the young man – with no obvious intervention from neither the parent or anyone in the audience. I felt somewhat torn. Undoubtedly, this represented a significant event for the boy and his father to see the undoubtedly incredibly difficult existence portrayed on the big screen, and it was positive that they received this chance. But was it fair that I and everyone else in the theater could hardly hear the dialogue because of this? Would the venue not have put on a special screening – as several theaters regularly do for those with conditions typically?

A Moral Struggle

It's regrettable to confess that I genuinely contemplated raising the issue – not directly to them himself (I am no a monster), instead to the manager at the venue. Yet, each of the author's evidently more compassionate friends seemed to have come to terms to what was happening. Additionally, I recalled there was an admittedly fictional incident in the TV series where Ricky Gervais’s the protagonist complains regarding a young person being disruptive during a meal, unaware which the child has special needs. He faced backlash the ensuing negative attention – and my offence could have been much more severe because I understood the teenager simply couldn’t help it.

An Eye-Opening Awakening

Fortunately, my better nature took over and an amazing thing occurred over the following film duration. Initially, I gradually got used to the once-intrusive sounds. Then, as the movie approached its conclusion where the audience observed the deeply freeing influence which Davidson’s Tourette’s camps provided for numerous individuals, I experienced awed as well as extremely fortunate to experience this event with people who’d actually lived it not only as actors – although Robert Aramayo’s performance as the character was superb and in my view, Oscar-caliber.

I’ve had similar experiences while watching films previously – watching The King’s Speech with an acquaintance who stutters and his language pathologist wife, alternatively encountering real ex-soldiers of the Normandy landings in the lobby after Saving Private Ryan – yet this was on another level. It resembled an immersive experience, but instead of motion seats and sprays of water touching viewers, the characters were present next to you saying, “This isn’t just a film. It reflects my life.” And then swearing. An example phrase.

An Uplifting Conclusion

So I didn’t complain. As the film ended, I even spoke with the young man – who was fourteen – and Mark, his father, for the gift of their presence, that certainly enhanced our viewing even more profound compared to what we expected. We then talked for a while then took a selfie as a group – when we all shouted an expletive alongside the young man.

Final Thoughts

It is urged that all viewers to view this brilliant film and should the opportunity arises to end up in the same theater with a person experiencing Tourette's, {don’t be a nim