'Under the Bridge': How Lily Gladstone breathes life into the character of police officer Cam Bentland
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Hulu's 'Under the Bridge' has been generating buzz due to its intriguing storyline, compelling characters, and suspenseful plot twists.
The series is based on the book of the same name by Rebecca Godfrey, which recounts the true story of a teen girl, Reena Virk, who tragically died as a result of bullying.
Starring Lily Gladstone, Vritika Gupta, Riley Keough, Izzy G, and Chloe Guidry in pivotal roles, the series provides insight into how Reena was killed and how the authorities responded to the crime.
In the series, Lily Gladstone portrays Cam Bentland, a dedicated police officer deeply invested in solving the case of Reena's (Vritika Gupta) murder. Throughout the investigation, Cam realizes how systemic racism can influence the treatment of victims.
Is Cam's character based on a real-life person? Here's everything we know about the police officer.
Cam Bentland investigates Reena Virk's murder case in 'Under the Bridge'
In 'Under the Bridge', Cam is a queer and indigenous woman. Cam's backstory reveals that she was adopted by a white family as a child.
As an Indigenous woman, Cam is aware of the systemic biases and prejudices that exist within the criminal justice system. Her experiences and perspective allow her to see how race has influenced the investigation, from initial assumptions about the case to the treatment of suspects and witnesses.
Cam's own experiences of being adopted into a different cultural background gives her a unique empathy for Reena's story. Being an adopted child, Cam feels a deep sense of connection to Reena and a strong drive to seek justice.
She is often seen crying and disheartened while investigating the case, reflecting the emotional toll it takes on her. However, she does not give up and works tirelessly to gather evidence.
In 'Under the Bridge' Episode 5, she obtains Kelly Ellard's (Izzy G) diary, which contains a drawing that could be crucial to the case.
The drawing depicts an act of hitting and burning the forehead of a girl, bearing an eerie resemblance to the injuries observed on Reena's body. This discovery adds a chilling dimension to the case, suggesting a possible connection between Kelly and Reena's murder.
Is Cam Bentland based on a real police officer involved in the Reena Virk case?
While 'Under the Bridge' is inspired by a true story and features characters based on real individuals, some characters are fictional, including the character of Cam.
Cam's character combines traits from multiple officers involved in the investigation of Reena's murder in Canada in 1997.
By drawing inspiration from multiple real-life police officers, 'Under the Bridge' creates the character of Cam, who represents the diverse perspectives and experiences of those who worked to solve the murder case.
Through Cam's character, viewers are able to see the emotional and psychological toll that such cases can take on law enforcement professionals.
In an interview with the The New York Times, Lily said, “Cam represents a lot of conversations that are not in the book itself but that were worth including."
Lily further added, "The murder happened just by tribal 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."
'First Nations' is a term used for Indigenous people in Canada. This term is used to describe the various Indigenous nations, tribes, and communities across Canada that have distinct cultures, traditions, languages, and histories.
'Under the Bridge' Episodes 1-5 are now streaming on Hulu