BBC’s Emotional New Parkinson’s Drama Leaves Viewers in Tears as Rhys Ifans and Laura Linney Form an Unexpected Bond
A first trailer for the BBC’s new film Onwards and Sideways has triggered an emotional reaction from viewers, with some admitting they were reduced to tears by its deeply personal portrayal of life after a Parkinson’s diagnosis.
Starring Rhys Ifans and Laura Linney, the drama follows two strangers whose lives are suddenly changed on the same day.
Ifans plays Tony, a primary school deputy head, while Linney stars as Emma, a musician, composer and single mother raising two daughters.
Neither expects their paths to cross. But after they are both diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, an unexpected friendship begins — one that gradually becomes a source of courage, humour and companionship as they confront an uncertain future.
Two strangers receive the same life-changing news
Tony’s journey begins when one of the children at his school notices something unusual and asks him: “What’s wrong with your hand?”
The question leads to a diagnosis that changes everything.
Soon afterwards, Tony encounters Emma, only to discover she has just received exactly the same news.
“I was just told that too,” she tells him in the trailer.
That shared experience becomes the foundation for a relationship neither of them anticipated.
Rather than facing the diagnosis entirely alone, Tony and Emma begin learning how to live with Parkinson’s together.
The film’s synopsis describes their story as an unexpected friendship filled with “humour and emotion,” as well as “challenge and courage.”
Music and dance also play an important role as the pair attempt to move beyond assumptions surrounding a condition that remains widely misunderstood.
Emma introduces Tony to a different way forward
The trailer makes clear that Onwards and Sideways is not solely interested in the fear surrounding their diagnoses.
Emma introduces Tony to activities for people living with Parkinson’s, including a ballet class and running club.
Their experiences begin to expand beyond doctors, symptoms and uncertainty.
The pair dance, exercise and even jump out of a plane together, with moments of exhilaration sitting alongside scenes of vulnerability.
One particularly emotional sequence shows Emma breaking down in tears.
Elsewhere, Tony reads the words: “When the dark clouds come… keep going.”
He later offers another reminder of how much progress they have already made.
“We have a long way to go, but look how far you’ve come,” he says.
Humour remains at the heart of their relationship
Despite the serious subject matter, the film also uses humour to show Tony and Emma refusing to allow their diagnoses to define every part of their lives.
That balance is evident in the trailer’s closing exchange.
Emma asks Tony: “Shall we go upstairs?”
Tony responds with a laugh: “We can if you like. I live in a bungalow, but I’ll try anything once.”
The playful moment reflects the broader tone promised by the film — an emotional story about illness that also makes space for laughter, intimacy and joy.
Viewers say the trailer hits painfully close to home
For people already affected by Parkinson’s, the first footage has proved particularly powerful.
One viewer explained that her husband has the condition and admitted the film felt almost too personal to watch.
She nevertheless welcomed the opportunity to increase awareness, noting that many people associate Parkinson’s primarily with tremors when the reality of the condition can be far more complicated.
Another person living with young onset Parkinson’s disease said the trailer “hits close to home” while also giving them hope.
Others expressed similar feelings, praising the decision to put Parkinson’s at the centre of a major drama with such a prominent cast.
One viewer admitted they were glad they were “not the only one with leaky eyes” after watching the footage.
Parkinson’s charities welcome the representation
The trailer has also received support from organizations working with people affected by the condition.
Parkinson’s UK described the film as an “incredible opportunity” to increase awareness and welcomed the prospect of seeing Parkinson’s represented on the big screen.
Cure Parkinson’s similarly said it was looking forward to the film, emphasizing the importance of seeing the condition portrayed on screen.
Another viewer living with young onset Parkinson’s said they were pleased to see greater awareness being created with actors of Ifans and Linney’s profile.
The reaction suggests the film could resonate particularly strongly with people whose own experiences are rarely reflected in mainstream drama.
Rhys Ifans and Laura Linney lead the cast
Rhys Ifans takes the central role of Tony, whose diagnosis forces him to reconsider the life he thought he understood.
Laura Linney plays Emma, whose determination to continue embracing new experiences helps shape the friendship between them.
They are joined in the cast by Monica Dolan and Rory Kinnear.
The trailer focuses heavily on the chemistry between Tony and Emma, moving between painful conversations and moments of unexpected freedom as their relationship deepens.
Their story is presented not simply as one about illness, but about what happens when two people facing the same frightening reality discover they do not have to face it alone.
The film promises emotion without losing sight of joy
Parkinson’s disease provides the catalyst for Tony and Emma’s friendship, but the first footage suggests Onwards and Sideways intends to tell a much broader story.
Fear and grief are clearly present.
So are dancing, running, laughter, friendship and the possibility of love.
That mixture appears to be precisely what has affected viewers so strongly.
Rather than portraying a diagnosis as the end of Tony and Emma’s lives as they knew them, the film follows their attempt to find meaning and happiness inside a reality neither of them chose.
And judging by the response to the trailer, its message about continuing forward — even when those “dark clouds” arrive — is already striking a deeply personal chord.
Onwards and Sideways is scheduled to arrive in UK cinemas on November 6 before being shown on BBC One and BBC iPlayer later in the year.