First Cow (2020) Directed by Kelly Reichardt
8B
Otis (John Magaro), nicknamed Cookie for good reason, and Lu (Orion Lee), a Chinese guy on the run, meet in the woods in 1820, and decide to join forces. Given the rugged, often brutal nature of the West at this time, these two guys seem like fish out of water, being likeable and gentle men. Otis worked in a bakery back East, and when the first cow in the territory is introduced into their scruffy little community, he gets an idea. The two begin to steal milk at night and Otis begins to make delicious biscuits and cookies for Lu. Soon they begin to sell them to the locals, and the money piles up. Then the owner (Toby Jones) of the cow comes into the picture, and this amiable movie takes a not completely unexpected turn. Okay, Reichardt makes really slow movies, but
First Cow is such a good one that people should develop some patience. The story is as fresh and original as any Western since
McCabe and Mrs. Miller, with whom it shares a wonderful sense of atmosphere. There are themes here, but treated in a low key way, about money and capitalism, but the heart of this movie is the relationship between Otis and Lu. Are they gay? Maybe, maybe not--Reichardt's clear position is "Who cares?" With every movie her skill as a director grows.
First Cow is her best film since
Wendy and Lucy. So far, it's the best movie of the year by a wide margin.
Best of 2020 so far (includes some recent movies available for the first time in Canada this year)
First Cow, Reichardt, US
Seducio da Carne, Bressane, Brazil
The Portuguese Woman, Gomes, Portugal
The Load, Glavonic, Serbia
A Land Imagined, Siew, Singapore
The Day after I'm Gone, Eldar, Israel
Echo, Runarsson, Iceland
Da 5 Bloods, Lee, US
Infinite Football, Porumboiu, Romania
Family Romance, LLC, Herzog, US/Japan