Heard The One About The Three Vicars Who Went To The Cinema – And Were Taught A Lesson In Tolerance? | Ravi Holy

1 week ago

What do vicars do successful their spare time? Last week, I went pinch 2 friends, some chap vicars, to spot nan new movie I Swear. I knew from nan trailer that it was astir a man pinch Tourette syndrome (TS). What I didn’t cognize was that it was astir a existent person: John Davidson who was nan taxable of a 1989 BBC documentary called John’s Not Mad and who later received an MBE for his efforts to amended group astir nan information and support his chap sufferers.

Before that programme, astir group had ne'er heard of TS. Nearly 40 years later, everybody (sort of) knows what it is, but it’s still often treated arsenic a punchline – peculiarly connected nan drama circuit.

From nan trailer, it seemed clear that nan movie was going to effort to person its barroom and eat it by some capitalising connected nan undeniable comic imaginable of personification shouting nan astir inappropriate things (“I usage spunk for milk”) astatine inopportune times and attempting to proceed Davidson’s activity of raising consciousness successful a respectful and delicate way. I dream it’s not a spoiler to opportunity it was successful connected some counts – but of people I only knew that by nan end.

As nan movie was starting, a young man sitting successful nan statement successful beforehand of america abruptly shouted retired a drawstring of obscenities. For a minute, I thought it was a joke – albeit 1 successful very mediocre taste. However, it quickly became evident that this was a real-life personification pinch TS: a teen accompanied by his father.

And arsenic nan movie continued, truthful did nan boy – pinch nary evident involution from either his dada aliases anyone successful nan audience. I felt somewhat conflicted. Clearly, it was a large woody for this family to spot their nary uncertainty incredibly difficult life depicted connected nan large screen, and I was pleased that they were having that opportunity. But was it OK that I (and everyone other successful nan auditorium) could hardly perceive nan movie arsenic a result? Could nan cinema not person put connected a typical screening – arsenic astir of nan chains regularly do for neurodiverse group successful general?

John Davidson signs copies of his memoir, I Swear, astir surviving pinch Tourette syndrome, astatine Wigtown book festival, Galloway, 4 October 2025.

I’m ashamed to opportunity that I really considered saying thing – not to nan boy’s begetter himself (I’m not a monster), but to nan head of nan theatre. However, some of my intelligibly much charitable chap vicars seemed to person resigned themselves to what was happening. Plus, successful nan backmost of my mind was nan (admittedly fictional) incident successful Extras erstwhile Ricky Gervais’s Andy Millman complains astir a kid making excessively overmuch sound successful a restaurant, unaware that he has Down’s syndrome. He hardly survived nan resultant bad property – and my offence would person been acold worse because I knew nan boy virtually couldn’t thief it.

Fortunately, my amended quality prevailed and thing bonzer happened complete nan pursuing hr and a half. First, I simply became accustomed to nan once-intrusive noise. Then, arsenic nan movie reached its climax and we saw nan incredibly liberating effect that Davidson’s Tourette’s camps person had connected truthful galore people, I felt humbled and very privileged to beryllium sharing this infinitesimal pinch group who’d really lived it not conscionable arsenic actors – though Robert Aramayo’s capacity arsenic Davidson was superb and, successful my view, award-worthy.

I’ve had akin experiences successful nan cinema earlier – watching The King’s Speech pinch a friend pinch a stammer and his reside therapist wife, aliases bumping into existent veterans of nan Normandy landings successful nan foyer aft Saving Private Ryan – but this was connected different level. It was for illustration a 4D screening, but alternatively of nan chairs moving astir and sprays of h2o hitting you successful nan face, nan characters were sitting adjacent to you saying, “This isn’t conscionable a movie. It’s my reality.” And past swearing. Spunk for milk.

So I didn’t complain. As nan credits rolled, I really went and thanked Joe – who was 14 – and Mark, his father, for nan gift of their presence, which undoubtedly made our acquisition moreover much profound than it would person been anyway. We past had a agelong chat and took a selfie together – during which we each shouted a rude connection successful solidarity pinch Joe.

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I would powerfully promote everyone to spell and spot this superb movie and, if you’re fortunate capable to find yourself sharing nan cinema pinch personification for illustration Joe, don’t beryllium a nimby for illustration I was astatine first. You cognize nan benignant of thing: “Of people I want group pinch this information to beryllium capable to spot this film, conscionable not successful nan aforesaid screening arsenic me!” Believe me, your acquisition will beryllium each nan richer because they’re there.