Entertainment / Television

The Bridge: A crime thriller that straddles two worlds

Contentious U.S.—Mexico border is stage for TV series that raises awareness about drug violence, corruption and immigration.

Demian Bichir and Diane Kruger in The Bridge, which airs on FX Canada Wednesdays at 10 p.m.



In the recent premiere of the utterly compelling FX crime thriller The Bridge, dedicated detective Marco Ruiz, brilliantly played by Demián Bichir, strides into a private party peopled by shady characters and exotic caged predators.

His police captain, who is working his own unknown agenda, is playing cards with some drug cartel types. And resolute Ruiz, like Daniel entering the lion’s den, has come to ask his permission to take on the case of a body found strategically straddling the border of Mexico and the U.S. Except it’s not just one body: the top part belongs to an anti-immigration American judge and the bottom half to a poor, working class Mexican girl, one of the “dead girls of Juárez.”

Welcome to the border city of Juárez, Chihuahua, which is joined by the Bridge of the Americas to El Paso, Texas. And welcome to two diverse cultures, two different ways of doing things and two very dissimilar cops.

On one side is keen, by-the-book El Paso detective Sonya Cross (an excellent Diane Kruger), who suffers from Asperger's syndrome and is called a “bona fide whack job” by fellow cops. Then there’s Juárez’s Ruiz, who constantly has to deal with the “accept-a-bribe-or-face-assassination” lay of his land.

Mexican-born but now L.A.-based, Bichir, 49, who was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar for A Better Life, intuitively understands the duality of his character.

“In his world, it often is Plata o plomo, silver or lead. Marco is an honest cop but has been offered all kinds of bribes. He understands how politics works and because he chooses to walk a difficult fine line, he needs to be both courageous and very smart. Marco isn’t black or white; he has many shades. He can transit between heaven and hell, deal with angels and demons, and still be alive to tell his story.

“He could’ve chosen to work in any other city in Mexico, but stays because he believes he can make a difference in a very difficult environment that threatens not only him but his growing family.”

Because the severed corpse comes from both sides of the contentious border, where undocumented travel, corruption and violence abound, Ruiz and Cross are thrown awkwardly together on a task force. Bichir calls Kruger, who starred in Troy, National Treasure and Inglourious Basterds, “talented, funny and one of the most beautiful women in the world.”

Kruger, in turn, captures the essence of her character’s disorder, being socially inept and unsympathetic. Early on, Ruiz tries to explain his reality of dealing with murderous thugs daily. “Sonya and Marco are fascinating because they’re like their countries: so different, yet so much alike with good parts and flaws. And they do have to work together to resolve their common investigations. But early on, it doesn’t matter how much I explain to her how things work in Mexico, her only answer is ‘You should try harder,’ ” Bichir says.

What they do share is a desire to do right by the victims. Plus, they’re also contending with an unusual serial killer who leaves provocative messages such as, “Why is one dead white woman more important than so many dead just across the bridge? How long can El Paso look away?”

Charming Bichir, who is at ease filming on both sides of the border and internationally, just played Sandra Bullock’s boss in the summer comedy hit The Heat, and will co-star in Robert Rodriguez’ neo-exploitation sequel Machete Kills in October. Working with Kruger and the mysterious killer in The Bridge was immediately attractive to him.

“Diane has got by far the toughest role, dealing with the issue of Asperger's syndrome. She plays Sonya with such grace and precision that I’m amazed to watch her, and it’s a joy to work with her. It’s fascinating that the killer may be politically motivated, that he may not be just a crazy psychopath. When I read that in the script, I was already hooked and trapped by it. I wanted to know more.

“It’s the same as people all over, they say they’re hooked and ask me, ‘What happens next?’ Hopefully we are creating this high quality show that attracts people to come back again and again.”

While delivering entertainment is key, Bichir also hopes The Bridge raises awareness about issues like drug violence, corruption and immigration.

“Corruption happens on both sides of the border, they just do it with more impunity in Mexico. And, immigration reform needs to be done as soon as possible. Twelve million undocumented workers is a powerful force in the U.S. economy. But, instead of pointing fingers, we need to realize we are so close together forever and forever, so we need to work together instead of building a wall, build some bridges ... like the title of the show.”

The Bridges airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. on FX Canada.

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