Saoirse Ronan wanted to play an “unsympathetic character” in Bad Apples. She really wanted to meet, and she was so keen on doing it because it’s not her usual character to play — she’s been playing a lot of good-hearted people. I think she was very keen on playing an unsympathetic character. “And, of course, I had watched all the great films that she’s done, so I’ve been a big fan of hers. However, Etzler insisted that Maria is not a completely unsympathetic character.