Onwards and Sideways

BBC iPlayer / BBC One
2026
Feature-Length Drama
Onwards and Sideways

Tony is deputy head of a primary school. Emma is a musician and composer, and a single mother of two daughters. Neither knows the other, until a startling encounter changes the course of their lives. On the same morning, these two are confronted with a diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease.

This film is their story - a friendship which unfolds unexpectedly. A story of humour and emotion, of challenge and courage, of music and dance - transcending the assumptions of a little understood condition, and triumphing over the odds to find joy, release and love.

Written by Paul Mayhew-Archer, the emotional and surprisingly funny film is directed by John Madden and stars BAFTA award-winning Rhys Ifans (Inheritance, House of the Dragon) as Tony Evans, along with three-time Oscar nominee, Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning Laura Linney (Ozark, Love Actually) as Emma Dretzin.

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