First Cow

Kelly Reichardt, USA, 2019

I didn’t know much about his film. Female director. Good reviews (that I hadn’t read). I knew it was set in the time of American pioneers in the 19th century, so I had in mind tough men sitting round a campfire chewing tobacco, pistols drawn at the slightest provocation etc etc.

Which is in there, but not the focus. What was surprising was this film’s gentleness. It’s actually a quiet story of a male friendship between two outsiders – a shy, domestic (and very skilled) man and an adventurous immigrant from China. The trailer makes it seem sentimental and Hollywood uplifting, but it’s not that either. I’d say it’s a much more truthful and authentic examination of a relationship between two humans, and the relationship they have with both nature and the rest of the human world.

But it does have action and jokes! These people live in a small rudimentary village in the Oregon woods, getting most of what they need from their environment. How the time and the way of life are depicted must have taken a lot of diligent work, and deserves an award for all involved. The sets, costumes and props pay much attention to historical detail and really put us in the period. Local indigenous people feature quite a lot, including their language (so good to see) and clothing made from what they find around them (like indigenous people do – I imagine the reed hats and capes are perfectly waterproof).

This is the time before ‘civilisation’ got properly established in this corner of the US. And it’s a way life many of us are looking to recapture in part these days (I certainly am: sustainable living in the woods seems very appealing at times!). The way the film contrasts this – visually and in dialogue – with the pomposity of coming modernity and European ways is one of its many strengths.

Such sophistication is embodied by the brilliant Toby Jones as the community’s English gentleman leader, his neat house with blue walls contrasting sharply with the shacks the woodsmen live in (and blend into). He wears a top hat, he imports a cow, he asks for fruit that’s out of season. Instead of changing himself to live in harmony with where he is, he’s moulding his environment to suit him. He is an expat rather than an adaptable migrant. Dominating rather than treading lightly.

And then we get to the ending, which is one of the best I think I’ve seen! The story comes full circle, yet there is still enough mystery to leave you wondering what did exactly happen. The more I think about it, the lovelier this film gets.