Episode 313: Reena Virk’s tragic murder revisited in Hulu series

The YVR Screen Scene Podcast

The murder of 14-year-old Reena Virk in 1997 sent shockwaves across Canada. Her murder thrust issues of bullying and teenage violence into the Canadian consciousness. 27 years later, Reena’s story is back in the public consciousness, on both sides of the border this time, thanks to Under the Bridge, a limited series produced by ABC Signature for Hulu and streaming on Disney Plus. Under the Bridge is based on acclaimed author Rebecca Godfrey’s book about Reena’s case. Told through the eyes of Godfrey (portrayed by Riley Keough) and a local police officer played by Golden Globe winner and Academy Award nominee Lily Gladstone (Killers of the Flower Moon), the series takes us into the hidden world of the young girls accused of the murder, revealing startling truths about bullying and teenagers, family relationships, and racism. Under the Bridge was filmed in British Columbia, which is fitting, because Reena’s is a British Columbia story. In this thoughtful and at times emotional episode, Sabrina speaks with two remarkable British Columbia-based artists involved in the production – acclaimed director Nimisha Mukerji, who directed the fourth episode of the series entitled “Beautiful British Columbia,” and actor Evan Rein, who portrays Officer Don Gardner, a rookie cop on the Saanich police force – about their experiences working on the series and why, nearly 30 years later, it’s important to bear witness to Reena’s story. Episode sponsor: Fish Flight Entertainment