TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2026 REVIEW! A romantic comedy about two senior citizens coping with Parkinson’s disease may sound a bit incongruous, even depressing. But Onwards and Sideways is so deeply sincere and human, it leaves you feeling uplifted and hopeful, despite the difficult subject matter.
The story follows Tony (Rhys Ifans), an elementary school teacher, and Emma (Laura Linney), a composer, who both find out they have Parkinson’s at the same clinic. The two share the shock of the diagnosis that morning, but they then go their separate ways, each processing that they may have only “5 good years” left, and then a long tail of pronounced suffering. Eventually Tony takes Emma’s advice and goes to a ballet class for people with their condition, where he sees people at all stages of the disease. He can’t handle this glimpse into his future, and retreats. Meanwhile, he’s hiding the disease from his colleagues, worried that they might fire him. Emma has a tremor, and that’s affecting her career, but she’s a bit more open and proactive about dealing with it.
The two share the shock of the diagnosis on that morning, but they then go their separate ways, each processing that they may have only “5 good years” left, and then a long tail of pronounced suffering
The two come together and drift apart over the course of years, dealing with their conditions both alone and together. This lets us feel the loneliness and isolating nature of the disease, while at times giving us hope. But then there’s the added challenge each character faces — they feel like a burden — how could they put that weight on another person who can barely get by?
Rhys Ifans is doing some of the best work of his long and storied career here. Sure there’s the physical performance of a man with reduced control over his body, but that feels like the easy part. The deeper thing is his mental struggles in constantly having to adjust to a daily life that becomes more and more restrictive, eroding his dignity and self-image. Laura Linney is equally compelling as a woman determined not to let the disease define her. Together, the two have an excellent chemistry, battling what could be despair with quick-witted banter and a kind of gallows humor.
The magic here is provided by the moving script by Paul Mayhew-Archer, who brought his own struggles and experiences of living with Parkinson’s since 2011. Every detail about the disease, treatment, and the varied reactions of the people afflicted by it feels authentic. There are a couple of moments where things seem a little forced for the sake of the plot, but these are dramatically eclipsed by the deeply moving journey.
The magic here is provided by the moving script by Paul Mayhew-Archer, who brought his own struggles and experiences of living with Parkinson’s since 2011
Director John Madden balances the tone well, between moments of sadness, struggle, humor, and hope. He doesn’t shy away from the terror of the loss of bodily function — a freeze-up, or a dropped coffee cup. We sit with the character while they slowly gain their composure and deal with the consequences. When they come back, we come with them.
Sure, there are some tropes at work here, but Onwards and Sideways soars well beyond standard romantic comedy fare with top-notch acting, great direction, and a stellar script that gives us insight into a part of humanity that we’ve rarely seen on screen.
Onwards and Sideways had its world premiere at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival.
"…top-notch acting, great direction, and a stellar script that gives us insight into a part of humanity that we’ve rarely seen on screen. "
