First Cow

Fur trappers were not the only ones to venture out into the wilderness of Oregon at the beginning of the 19th century. A taciturn cook and a Chinese immigrant set up a small trade in oily cakes that are wildly popular in the Wild West. The only small problem: they are made with stolen ingredients.

Director Kelly Reichardt (Old Joy, Meek’s Cutoff) wrote the script together with Jonathan Raymond, author of the novel that inspired the film. First Cow firmly establishes Reichardt’s name as a storyteller of rural America, a land of promise, far removed from the hectic pace of the cities.

Like the western, First Cow is a tribute to people on the margins of society. They grab their chances, but instead of guns, they reach for a spoonful of honey and a bucket of milk. A wonderful alternative script that has urgent political significance. The film was shown in the Berlin Film Festival’s Golden Bear competition.