Under the Bridge is a limited mini-series. It narrates a real-life murder case of a 14-year-old kid Reena Virk by her school friends. Sadly, that 1997 tragic incident exposed the faultlines in society and the system in Canada.
It is worth noting that Rebecca Godfrey’s “Under The Bridge” book has been officially adopted for this modern-day tragic tale. Besides, for this series, its showrunners have worked directly with Rebecca Godfrey as well as the murder victim Reena Virk’s father Manjit Virk to tell her grim story. So, quite a few parts of Manjit Virk’s novel “Reena: A Father’s Story” were used to develop the miniseries, while, it was not officially adopted.
‘Under The Bridge’ Delves Into True Murder Case & Institutional Racism Issues
Trailer: Under the Bridge (2024) Mini-Series
Spoiler Free Review: Under the Bridge (2024) Mini-Series
The storyline/plotline/summary/synopsis
Chronicling the events of November 1997, the narrative follows the tragic story of fourteen-year-old Reena Virk (Vritika Gupta) who went missing after attending a party with friends. Rebecca Godfrey (Riley Keough) and a police officer (Lily Gladstone) offer unique perspectives, guiding audiences through the hidden world of the teenage girls implicated in the murder and unveiling shocking truths about the unlikely perpetrator.
{Spoilers Alert} a brief note about “Under the Bridge” book by Rebecca Godfrey
One moonlit night, fourteen-year-old Reena Virk went to join friends at a party and never returned home.
In this “tour de force of crime reportage”, author Rebecca Godfrey takes us into the hidden world of the seven teenage girls—and boy—accused of a brutal murder. As she follows the investigation and trials, Godfrey reveals the startling truth about the unlikely killers. Laced with lyricism and insight, Under the Bridge is an unforgettable look at a haunting modern tragedy. {Source: Goodreads}
{Spoilers Alert} a brief note about “Reena: A Father’s Story” book by Manjit Virk
It is the story of an average (Indian) family that has never been the same . . . since its eldest child Reena Virk was swarmed and killed by her peers (school kids) on a moonlit night, November 14, 1997 . . . It is the story of what sudden and horrific violence can do to a family, and how a family somehow remains intact in the face of such events. {Source: Goodreads}
Even though author Rebecca Godfrey passed away in 2022 before filming started, she worked closely with showrunner Quinn Shephard for three years on the show and the portrayal of her character by Riley Keough. In fact, Riley Keough and Lily Gladstone were personally selected by the book author and series producer Rebecca Godfrey for their roles prior to her death from cancer in 2022. Also, Rebecca shared her investigative journals and personal diaries with Shephard during that time to help develop Keough's interpretation of Rebecca.
In short, it is a true tale of a tragic teenage bullying case among school students in Saanich, Greater Victoria area, British Columbia, Canada. Broadly speaking, the series also focuses on the issues of racism in Canada.
Reena Virk’s tragic true tale broke our hearts
By adding a little bit of fictional elements to these real-life incidents surrounding the deplorable bullying murder case of Reena Virk, the series explores the harsh realities of Western Society in Northern America, especially Canada. The cold-blooded murder of a teenage girl Reena Virk by some of her so-called friends is a chilling reminder of the kind of society that she lived in. The narration of this disturbing tale has been done well.
Little Bird (2023) Series - A Disturbing Native American Tale From Canada.
The insightful story focuses on two sets of commonly named Indians in America. The Virk family is in the first category, as they trace their roots to India. On the other hand, the two key characters – Cam Bentland (Lily Gladstone) and Warren Glowatski (Javon ‘Wanna’ Walton) belong to the Indigenous Native American community. Incidentally, both sets of Indians face deeply ingrained systematic cases of racism and discrimination. Although this harrowing murder case happened way back in 1997, it raises pertinent questions about institutional racism.
Young actors/actresses shine in this gripping true tale
In this gripping tale, almost all the young actors/actresses have portrayed their roles realistically. The cast of youngsters is led by the evocative Vritika Gupta (Reena Virk), who played a vulnerable Indian (brown) girl to almost perfection. One could see and feel her desperation as an outsider, as Vritika tries to fit in with the cool and rebellious (dominant white) teenage girls’ group. The real-life story of the native American boy Warren Glowatski portrayed by Javon ‘Wanna’ Walton was depicted sensitively too. Also, Chloe Guidry (Josephine Bell), Izzy G. (Kelly Ellard) and Aiyana Goodfellow (Dusty Pace), these kids gave good performances.
After auditioning more than 700 girls from across America, Vritika Gupta was ultimately selected to portray the character of Reena Virk.
Most of the senior members of the ensemble cast have been impressive in this terrifying story. Lily Gladstone (Cam Bentland) and Riley Keough (Rebecca Godfrey) have portrayed complex and layered characters in it. We liked their terrific performances. The family members of the teenage victim Reena Virk were played by Archie Panjabi (mother Suman Virk), Ezra Faroque Khan (father Manjit Virk) and Anoop Desai (uncle Raj Masihajjar). These three Indian-origin actors played the heartbroken family members in a heart-touching manner.
The conclusion
This mini-series highlights an important tale about systematic racism, bullying and teenage violence. All of these working together, perhaps, led to the murder of an Indian girl Reena Virk in Canada, Northern America. In addition, it also brings to light a broken (police and justice) system and fractured society of a Western democratic nation. We know it was a heartbreaking and difficult mini-series to watch. But we liked this thoughtful and nuanced drama that tells an important tale of our times.
Ratings: Under the Bridge (2024) Mini-Series
| FM Rating | 3.80/5 |
Poster: Under the Bridge (2024) Mini-Series
Key Details: Under the Bridge (2024) Mini-Series
| Genre | Biography, Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller |
| Original Language | English (USA, Canada & India) |
| Season | One (1) Season |
| Episodes | Eight (8) Episodes |
| Creator | Quinn Shephard |
| Writers | Rebecca Godfrey, Quinn Shephard, Manjit Virk, Todd Crittenden, etc. |
| Directors | Kevin Phillips, Quinn Shephard, Catherine Hardwicke, Nimisha Mukerji, Geeta Vasant Patel, & Dinh Thai. |
| Cast | Lily Gladstone (Cam Bentland), Riley Keough (Rebecca Godfrey), Vritika Gupta (Reena Virk), Chloe Guidry (Josephine Bell), Javon ‘Wanna’ Walton (Warren Glowatski), Izzy G. (Kelly Ellard), Aiyana Goodfellow (Dusty Pace), Ezra Faroque Khan (Manjit Virk), Archie Panjabi (Suman Virk), Matt Craven (Roy Bentland), Anoop Desai (Raj Masihajjar), Isabella Leon (Samara Bailey), etc. |
| Network | Hulu |
Spoilers Alert: Summary of 8 Episodes & More
Summary of Eight (8) Episodes
Looking Glass (S1, E1)
In 1997, on a quiet island in BC, fourteen-year-old Reena Virk attends a party and never returns home. Her disappearance intrigues a novelist returning to her hometown, who finds herself drawn into the hidden world of the teen suspects.
The John Gotti of Seven Oaks (S1, E2)
Cam is thrown by a shocking discovery and the police rush to unravel what really happened under the bridge. Josephine makes a deal with Rebecca while a look into the past reveals Reena’s first rebellion.
Blood Oath (S1, E3)
Upsetting news shakes the small town of Victoria and as rumours surface, Rebecca and Cam reconnect. In the past, Reena enters Josephine’s mafia fantasy world.
Beautiful British Columbia (S1, E4)
In 1979, Suman and Manjit fall in love, setting into motion a series of events that will change their lives forever. In 1997, the Seven Oaks girls come to the Virk house for a dinner that leads to the revelation of Manjit’s secret.
When the Heat Comes Down (S1, E5)
Tensions rise as suspicions surround the teens. Rebecca and Cam hatch a plan – but an unexpected detour leads Rebecca down a strange rabbit hole, resulting in a new bond.
In Water They Sink as the Same (S1, E6)
Past and present wounds entwine as Rebecca and Cam’s alliance is tested. The Virks discuss taking matters into their own hands and the teens use a school dance as cover for their escape plan — all as another life is threatened.
Three and Seven (S1, E7)
The unfolding trial pushes Rebecca to the brink as she begins to question who she should defend. Cam’s allegiance to the justice system is tested as details from the night of the murder are finally revealed.
Mercy Alone (S1, E8)
The last opportunity for justice arrives as all the participants reckon with their true involvement in the events that transpired. A radical choice of forgiveness allows for closure.
A brief note about teenage student Reena Virk (a real-life Indian immigrant character)
Reena Virk, the child of Manjit Virk and Suman Virk, attended Colquitz Junior Secondary in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. She was the daughter of an Indian immigrant, Manjit, and an Indo-Canadian, Suman, whose relatives had switched from Hinduism to the Jehovah’s Witness religion shortly after Reena’s grandmother, Tarsem, first came to Canada. At the age of 14, Reena enjoyed listening to Biggie and watching Bollywood films.
Reena had a unique blend of courage and purity. And she was dark-skinned and full-figured in a community and era that prized slimness and blondness. (in Canada)
Rebecca Godfrey, author
A brief note about police officer Cam Bentland (a fictional Indigenous native character)
Cam (Lily Gladstone), a police officer, is one of the few entirely fictional elements in the “Under the Bridge” mini-series. And it seems that her White family has adopted under questionable circumstances.
The murder happened just by indigenous native land. The bridge connects the municipality to a reserve. So inherently, there’s a First Nations presence in the story. I thought it was a brilliant construction to have a First Nations, adopted cop, who feels compelled to Reena in a way that becomes clearer and clearer to her.
Lily Gladstone on playing Cam | NYT
Poster, Other and Featured Images of the Under the Bridge (2024) Mini-Series are credited to Hulu.