People tend to think they know a lot about it means to have an illness until they actually have the chance to go through it or to experience it through the eyes of a friend or loved one. Knowing that not everything manifests in the same way for each person is key, since there’s no standard of what care will be needed, and when or what makes life worth living also won’t be the same for everyone. Onwards and Sideways shows a range of functionality for people living with Parkinson’s disease and the ways in which they continue to find whatever ways they can to laugh.
Tony (Rhys Ifans) goes to get checked out when he thinks there may be something wrong with his hand and is stunned to receive the news that he has Parkinson’s, and, according to his doctor (Rory Kinnear), who could use a course in bedside manner, he should have five good years left. Before leaving, he meets Emma (Laura Linney), who has received the same diagnosis and prognosis. As he chooses not to disclose his condition to the principal (Sara Powell) at the school where he teaches, Tony does his best to manage his symptoms.
This film comes from director John Madden, best known for Shakespeare in Love and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, and screenwriter Paul Mayhew-Archer, who has been living with Parkinson’s for fifteen years. As a teaching tool designed to educate the public about what it means to have Parkinson’s, which may or may not involve shaking, a fact which surprises Tony, who has no such symptoms, this film is very worthwhile, and it may offer a considerable degree of hope to young people who feel that their lives are over when they receive this devastating news.
As a film, this is quite a light drama that focuses mostly on comedic moments, which begin with Emma infuriating Tony’s hotheaded sister Liz (Monica Dolan) by taking the parking spot she’s been desperately hunting for and not even apologizing for it. Tony is a quiet presence and Emma makes much more noise when she enters a room. That presents the opportunity for a number of humorous and endearing interactions, most of which involve Emma pushing Tony to reach just beyond his comfort zone and sometimes much more than that, like when she presses him to go public with his condition at school after she learns he’s been keeping it a secret when she shows up to give a presentation to his students.
Ifans has typically been known for his scene-stealing comedy in films like Notting Hill and his more over-the-top villain in The King’s Man, as well as a more serious pivot as Otto Hightower in House of the Dragon. This is a much more subdued role that strictly assigns him to be the straight man, allowing both Emma and Liz to do the talking when he’s in the room. When he bothers to say something, it suggests it’s important, but he’s also a good example of someone who isn’t showy or vocal about what he’s going through because that’s just not the type of person he is.
Linney is no stranger to this kind of role, which features a handful of focused speeches and lets her work her magic straddling comedy and drama as she confronts the reality of what she’s going through and her worsening health. Dolan is memorable and terrific in all her scenes, adding a good deal of welcome comic relief. While this is hardly the most dramatic portrayal of people living with life-altering conditions, it’s still emotional and resonant when it needs to be and overall perfectly pleasant and heartwarming.
Movie Rating: 6/10
Onwards and Sideways makes its world premiere in the Gala Presentations section at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival.
