Paul Mayhew-Archer has a punchline for the monster that is Parkinson’s disease. “I remember there was a moment in my first meeting with a neurologist who said to me ‘your facial muscles are somewhat frozen, you seem to be finding it quite hard to smile’,” he recalled. “And I heard myself saying, ‘well, it could be because you’ve just told me I’ve got Parkinson’s’.” That darkly comic realization became the engine for his feature film debut, Onwards and Sideways, a BBC-commissioned drama that opened in UK cinemas on Friday.
The film, which follows two people diagnosed with the same illness on the same day, shows the writer's unique approach to coping. BBC reported that Mayhew-Archer, who lives in Oxfordshire and has been living with Parkinson’s for 15 years since his diagnosis in 2011, said that moment with the doctor was “the moment I realised that I was going to try and deal with this thing through laughter and comedy and gently ribbing this monster of an illness.” It’s a strategy that has yielded a critically acclaimed project, currently boasting a perfect 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Film Draws Inspiration from Parkinson's Diagnosis
- A Diagnosis Becomes a Story: Writer Paul Mayhew-Archer credits his Parkinson’s diagnosis with giving him the subject matter for his first feature film, Onwards and Sideways.
- An Award-Winning Team: The film is directed by John Madden and stars Laura Linney and Rhys Ifans, receiving a standing ovation at its Toronto premiere.
- A Message of Optimism: Despite its heavy subject, the film and its stars emphasize a message of hope, determination, and embracing life.
How Laughter Became the Best Medicine for a Hollywood Feature
Mayhew-Archer’s journey from “Vicar of Dibley” co-creator to first-time filmmaker is as unconventional as the film’s premise. He told the BBC he had “always wanted to write a film” but “never had a subject until I got Parkinson’s.” The plot, which centers on an American composer (Laura Linney) and an English school teacher (Rhys Ifans) who meet at a hospital after both are diagnosed, is drawn directly from his own experience. He recalled being told by a neurologist that he could expect “five good years,” a detail that forms the dramatic backbone of the narrative.
This personal mission is what attracted a powerhouse team. The film is directed by John Madden. “They’re just fantastic people, they were all our first choices,” Mayhew-Archer said of the cast and crew. He also found a part for himself, playing “an old miserable bloke who complains all the time” and proudly noting, “I’ve given myself many of the funniest lines.” At its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, Onwards and Sideways was met with a lengthy standing ovation. “I think at the time it was rather insensitive of them to give me a standing ovation since I was in a wheelchair,” Mayhew-Archer joked. “But it was it was an amazing thing.”
The Industry’s Verdict: A Must-See Triumph of Cinema
Critics have been unequivocal in their praise, framing Onwards and Sideways as a potential awards-season heavyweight. The Future of the Force lauded it as a “deeply intimate, powerful, poignant, and resonant exploration of the crippling onset of Parkinson’s disease” and declared it “a must-see triumph of cinema.” The review highlights the film’s emotional core, noting that while the road ahead for the characters is heartbreaking, “we’re fully invested in their journeys, desperately willing them to find some solace amid the seemingly endless gloom.”
That praise extends to the performances. “In Laura Linney and Rhys Ifans, he has found two exceptional performers willing to go the extra mile, and the film feels all the more resonant for it,” The Future of the Force wrote. The film’s ability to balance the devastating realities of the disease with warmth and humor is a key part of its appeal.
| Critical Consensus on Onwards and Sideways | Key Sentiment |
|---|---|
| BBC | A story of finding hope and determination through humor and a personal diagnosis. |
| The Future of the Force | A “must-see triumph of cinema” and a “profoundly moving exploration” with stellar performances. |
| ITV (Monica Dolan) | An “optimistic film” that is a “privilege” to have helped raise awareness for Parkinson’s. |
Why This Film Matters Now: More Than Just an Awards Contender
While it opened in UK cinemas on Friday, it is slated to air on BBC One and iPlayer later this year. The film’s hopeful message, as described by Laura Linney, also resonates deeply. “I think at the core of this movie, it’s about life and it’s about living,” she told ITV. “It’s about handling things that might be difficult, and about handling things that are quite wonderful.”
Mayhew-Archer’s journey from “Vicar of Dibley” co-creator to first-time filmmaker is as unconventional as the film’s premise. He told the BBC he had “always wanted to write a film” but “never had a subject until I got Parkinson’s.”
A Final, Unlikely Thank You to the Disease Itself
As Onwards and Sideways hits cinemas, the man who started it all is looking back with a sense of gratitude that is as profound as it is surprising. “This is one of the best weekends of my life,” Mayhew-Archer said, noting the film’s release at his local cinema in Abingdon. “I have to thank Parkinson’s, thank God for that illness, because I would not have had these experiences without it.” His message, one he hopes the film imparts to others, is simple: “embrace life and look forward to the good things – find the challenges that you can overcome and experience things that are fun.”
As he put it, his whole message is to “gently rib this monster of an illness,” turning a personal struggle into a universal story of resilience.
