The first trailer for Onwards and Sideways has arrived, offering a look at an emotional new drama starring Laura Linney and Rhys Ifans. Directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker John Madden, the film follows two strangers whose lives unexpectedly become connected after they receive the same life-changing diagnosis.
The movie will have its world premiere at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival as part of the Gala Presentations lineup. It combines serious subject matter with humor, friendship and an ultimately hopeful story about human connection.
Laura Linney and Rhys Ifans Lead the Film
Linney plays Emma Dretzin, a musician and composer who is also raising two daughters as a single mother. Ifans stars as Tony Evans, a deputy headteacher at a primary school.
Although the two characters have never met, they receive their Parkinson’s diagnoses at the same clinic on the same morning. Their first encounter takes place shortly afterward, creating the unexpected beginning of a relationship that gradually becomes central to both of their lives.
A Story About Life After Diagnosis
Rather than focusing only on the medical side of Parkinson’s disease, Onwards and Sideways explores how the diagnosis affects everyday life.
Emma approaches her situation openly and wants to raise awareness, while Tony initially prefers to keep his condition private because he is concerned about how it could affect his job.
As time passes, their lives become increasingly intertwined. They meet again through a Parkinson’s ballet class, where both discover a supportive community and develop a deeper bond.
Humor Plays an Important Role
Despite its serious subject, the film is not presented as an entirely bleak drama.
The trailer introduces moments of humor alongside scenes of uncertainty, frustration and emotional vulnerability. Emma’s playful attitude toward her symptoms and the chemistry between the two leads help give the story a lighter dimension.
That balance is also central to the film’s premise. Onwards and Sideways aims to acknowledge the difficulties of living with a degenerative condition while showing that friendship, laughter and new experiences can still have an important place in life.
John Madden Directs
The film is directed by John Madden, whose previous credits include Shakespeare in Love, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and Operation Mincemeat.
The screenplay comes from Paul Mayhew-Archer, best known for writing British comedy projects including The Vicar of Dibley and Roald Dahl’s Esio Trot. Mayhew-Archer also co-hosts the Movers and Shakers podcast, which focuses on Parkinson’s and the experiences of people living with the condition.
That personal connection gives the project an additional layer, particularly as the story attempts to combine emotional honesty with comedy.
