Cultural cinema Kaimt -"Damn normal"

Biopic about the British activist John Davidson, whose life is changed by Tourette's syndrome.

That the Queen would award an uncontrollable "problem child" with the Order of the British Empire was something no one expected, least of all John Davidson himself. In the early 1980s, John (Scott Ellis Watson) grows up in a small Scottish town. At the age of 12, he begins to suffer from severe nerve tics. His life becomes an endless gauntlet due to the condition, which is diagnosed as Tourette's syndrome only years later. In his mid-20s, John (Robert Aramayo) still lives with his mother (Shirley Henderson). The side effects of the strong medication he relies on rob him of almost all will to live until a chance encounter with his school friend Murray and his mother Dottie (Maxine Peake) finally brings a turn. Dottie is a nurse and accepts John just as he is. She takes him into her family and even finds him a job as an assistant to the community center caretaker Tommy (Peter Mullan). A bizarre job interview, during which Tommy reacts to John's tics like no one else, lays the foundation for a deep friendship. Slowly, John finds the courage and confidence to lead an independent life and realizes how valuable his experiences are for others.

The British independent film is based on the real life of Scottish Tourette activist John Davidson. Director and screenwriter Kirk Jones approaches the subject without embellishment but with noticeable empathy. The production worked closely with the Tourette community, casting people with Tourette's syndrome and cooperating with a relevant charity organization. As a result, the film feels relatable, authentic, and free from false pathos.