John's Not Mad

The description of this movie given above is completely wrong! This is the BBC documentary from 1989 about John Davidson, a 15-year-old schoolboy from Galashiels who suffers from the most severe form of Tourette's Syndrome, a complex neurological disorder. This fascinating and inspiring film explores the way in which John, his family and the local community deal with his extreme condition.This DVD also contains footage from the 2002 BBC follow-up documentary, The Boy Can't Help It, featuring John, now aged 31, as he talks about how much impact the original documentary had on his life. John's charity, Tourette's Scotland, will be receiving a donation for every copy sold to continue helping and advising families of Tourette's sufferers.

I bought this dvd for myself and after watching have sent it on to my sister. Even though it does make you laugh at what John says, there is also a poignancy in the embarrassment he suffers at the problem. It was lovely to see what an amazing man John has grown into and thoroughly recommend anyone to watch this to understand better those that live with afflictions like Tourettes and how they make the most out of their lives.

Having read some of the horrible reviews left here already, I felt compelled to leave my own to try to balance things out.This is an amazing DVD and well worth watching, not least because some of the proceeds go to the Tourette Scotland charity. The contrast between John at 15, learning to live with his condition, and the man that he has become is truly inspiring, he's a good humoured, eloquent and self effacing man who has endured a truly isolating disability with more dignity and resilience than I suspect most of us could manage. I work with young people with disabilities and I know the abuse and bullying they often have to endure as part of the already fraught process of growing up is nothing to laugh at.I don't believe that all comedy should be politically correct but I think that some of the reviewers above have missed the point, it must have taken monumental bravery for a young boy to make this film and, while parts of it are as John himself admits amusing, to treat the whole DVD as just another comedy DVD is just outrageous. You could learn from John's best friend in the second film, they both undoubtedly find lots of humour in John's situation but his compassion and regard for John are very clear to see, he's never laughing at John, only with him.I wonder, out of curiousity, if those reviewers that describe helpless laughter throughout, or drinking games, stop for a break during the moment where John describes sometimes feeling so alone and hated with this condition that he wishes he could die? Or maybe I just missed the hilarity in this candid moment of painful honesty?I wholeheartedly recommend this film and wish John every strength and happiness, he's an amazing man.

A good documentary. Thought it might’ve shown more!!

Very helpful as a grandchild has just been diagnosed with this condition , I would recommend it to anyone ,a very interesting DVD.

v good