Saoirse Ronan Leads School Horror-Satire 'Bad Apples' Directed by Jonatan Etzler

Quick Brief
Saoirse Ronan stars as an idealistic teacher in Jonatan Etzler's dark comedy and satire film, Bad Apples. Adapted from a Swedish novel, the movie follows a teacher who accidentally traps a disruptive student in her basement. Critics note that while the premise features implausible plot holes, Ronan delivers a compelling performance.
What Happened?
In the film Bad Apples, directed by Jonatan Etzler and co-written with Jess O’Kane, a hardworking primary school teacher named Maria (played by Saoirse Ronan) struggles with a violent and disruptive student named Danny. After accidentally knocking the boy unconscious with a chokehold following a chaotic home visit, Maria panics and imprisons him in her basement. Freed from the disruptive student, her classroom begins to flourish and she earns a glowing report, leaving her to grapple with her hidden secret.
Why It Matters
The film adapts Rasmus Lindgren's Swedish novel 'De Oönskade' (The Unwanted) into an English-setting dark comedy. It highlights themes of school pressures and extreme coping mechanisms through satire, anchored largely by the star power of its lead actor.
Key Facts
- Saoirse Ronan stars as the idealistic teacher Maria in the film.
- Jonatan Etzler directed the movie, co-writing the screenplay with Jess O’Kane.
- The project is adapted from a Swedish novel titled De Oönskade (The Unwanted) by Rasmus Lindgren.
- The story is set in a primary school located in the English West Country.
- The plot involves a teacher who imprisons a disruptive student named Danny in her basement after an accidental chokehold.
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