A woman deal with the complexities of love and relationships in The Swearing Jar. Carey (Adelaide Clemens) finds herself reluctantly falling for bookstore clerk Owen (Douglas Smith). However, the problem is that Carey is still deeply in love with her husband Simon (Patrick J. Adams). The couple seems happy as Carey announces that she is expecting a child, though the bliss is spoiled by Simon’s mother, Bev (Kathleen Turner), who warns that men leave a relationship sooner or later.
The Swearing Jar is a film directed by Lindsay MacKay (Wet Bum) and written by actress Kate Hewlett, based on her play of the same name. The film has a framing device in the form of a musical performance by Carey in honour of Simon’s 40th birthday, with Owen accompanying her on guitar. The importance of this performance becomes apparent throughout the story, along with the significance of the titular swearing jar.
There is a point halfway through The Swearing Jar where a significant revelation is made, which is enough to make you wonder if director Lindsay MacKay and writer Kate Hewlett have been deliberately misleading the audience. The Swearing Jar starts off seeming like it’s about Carey creating a midlife crisis but ends up being a reflection on whether it’s possible to love more than one person.
