‘Bad Apples’ Review: The Kids Are Not All Right as Saoirse Ronan Snaps in Audacious Satire of the Education System [B+] TIFF
The phrase “a rotten apple spoils the barrel” has been around for centuries, a warning to show how even one corrupt or troublesome individual can affect a large group or that a select few aren’t necessarily representative of the whole. At first, Jonatan Etzler’s Bad Apples is a fun exploration of this black comedy trope. Primary school teacher Maria Spencer (Saiorse Ronan) struggles to control Danny (Eddie Waller), a capricious student who uses every possible moment to wreak havoc in her classroom. Charli XCX would say he’s “rotten right to the core.” However, Etzler (One More Time) takes this one step further in his sophomore feature and invites a darker interpretation: that the external manifestations of a rotten apple are actually qualities inside each of us raring to escape. Tensions run sky high as events spiral out of control in this unpredictable, captivating, and piercing morally grey satire.
The film begins on a school field trip to a cider mill with Chris Roe’s ominous score immediately suggestive of disaster afoot. Ripe apples are harvested then whisked away on a conveyor belt, but this time joined by an unlikely friend: a shoe. Danny smirks as the alarm blares and the machinery malfunctions, Miss Spencer clearly overwhelmed having to chase after him. She’s constantly stuck between a rock and a hard place–keeping her class in line and attentive while placating the dozens of concerned parents–the stress recognized through Ronan’s dulled shine. Danny’s destructive behavior stunts her ability to work with other students individually: he bullies other kids in the classroom including cursing at Miss Spencer, draws bad words on his desk, and even sends one student to the hospital. On top of all of this, the school has an inspection the following day. Nearing her wits’ end, she decides it’s in everyone’s best interest that Danny stays home.
Danny’s father won’t respond to any of her calls but she does catch him later that night on his delivery route. She tries to voice her concerns but he’s clearly distracted and admits that not even he can “cope” with his aggressive outbursts, especially as a single parent. Miss XCX’s continued lyrics ring true, hinting at a possible source of Danny’s behavior:
I think the apple’s rotten right to the core
From all the things passed down
From all the apples coming before
Dismayed after he leaves her in a hurry, Spencer returns to her car only to find Danny vandalizing every car in the parking lot. They struggle as she tries to confiscate the tire iron, but he’s pushed to the ground, unconscious. She frantically rushes him to the hospital, but when he awakens and threatens to tell the police that she attacked him, she is once again left with a difficult ethical dilemma: take him inside and make sure he isn’t concussed or…kidnap him so she doesn’t get arrested, keeps her job, and ensures the school inspection goes well?
Every new decision seems more farfetched than the last, garnering cheers and nervous laughter alike. As if this wasn’t a big enough disaster, things get even worse when her teacher’s pet, Pauline (Nia Brown), noses her way into Miss Spencer’s life. Brown gives Pauline an unsettling charm with her tidy uniform, assertive voice that commands the class before Miss Spencer has to, and smug expression knowing the power she holds. So when she shows up at Maria’s home unannounced and hears Danny, the gears quickly turn, her smile morphing into something much more wicked.
Brown and Waller are fantastic in their acting debuts, infuriatingly transfixing through their unexpected character arcs. Ultimately, the film challenges the stereotypes of these students because of the ludicrous situations they’re put in. Ronan is perfectly cast as Miss Spencer because of her ingenuity and widespread appeal as one of the most charismatic actors of her generation. This role fits right in her wheelhouse, but the film’s dark unraveling stretches the boundaries of her comfort zone. Her every move has you rooting for her, but a fascinating tug-of-war ensues between admiring how she maintains her familiar poise despite Danny’s aggression and hoping she’ll reach her breaking point in a fit of rage. Ronan’s precision and control of her craft are what makes this performance such a delicate, masterful delight. And to be clear, Miss Spencer could definitely handle Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson with her eyes closed.
Jess O’Kane’s impressive feature debut script adapted from the Swedish-language novel by Rasmus Lindgren, The Unwanted, captures the absurdity in every facet of society, including the classroom. It is clear early on that Bad Apples is an ode, a twisted love letter of sorts, to teachers. The dire state of the education system continues to decline, putting an increasing amount of unmanageable stress on teachers. They are expected to excel at their jobs and care for their students even with minimal resources. When Danny acts out or distracts the other students, Spencer’s frustration is palpable because her time with the other students is already quite limited. Compound that with minimal privacy–how would you react if a student showed up at your house and went through your closet!–it’s no wonder she lets Pauline live out her fantasy so that she can have a moment to breathe.
Bad Apples is a breath of fresh air for a trope that is usually portrayed through horror. Its dark humor blurs the line between fiction and possibility, actualizing what others only dare to imagine. Through its simple concept, it evolves into a larger meditation on power, community, and survival. At times, it also has the sensibility of a 1950s French film, exploring themes of identity and freedom, or lack thereof. Each new scene leaves you on edge for what could be just around the corner: danger or hilarity. Bad Apples is a knockout because of its audacity to be so outlandish, leaving you with a sense that maybe we all are rotten right to the core.
Grade: B+
This review is from the Toronto International Film Festival where Bad Apples had its world premiere. The film will be distributed by Republic Pictures.
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