No. 42 (2021) FIRST COW. MAY 24th.

 

Film No. 42 (2021)  May 24th.  4:50 PM  Cinema 7  LUNA,  Leederville. 

"History isn't here yet. It's coming and maybe we can take it on our own terms" (King-Lu explains to Cookie a philosophical view on their entrepreneurial destiny).

Kelly Reichardt fans, specifically those who loved MEEK'S CUTOFF, are going to take absolute delight in her latest offering, FIRST COW. But Reichardt films are difficult works to recommend. Simple plots, depicting unexceptional people eking out ordinary lives makes for difficult selling points. But with Reichardt it's all in the detail and boy, is FIRST COW chock-full of detail!

As with MEEK'S CUTOFF, Reichardt takes us into the past, but not before the important opening stanza set in contemporary times. I say important because as we meet and take this low key entrepreneurial adventure with Cookie (John Magaro) and King-Lu (Orion Lee) in frontier times, an inevitable outcome looms and sends our thoughts back to that beginning.

FIRST COW is about true friendship. Two bright young men who meet and share their aspirations. In times where they  eke out an existence amongst dirt and grime we are of the opinion that their plight would seem utterly hopeless. That is, until a cow turns up. With a cow (to milk) and Cookie's skills (baker) the creation of a tasty delight with addictive qualities (Krispy Creme like) becomes reality.

But the cow belongs to Chief Factor (Toby Jones), the landed gentry in these parts. To take this milk is stealing. Stealing and getting caught means Cookie and Lu will put paid to their business, but the worst of it will be the punishment meted out. The price paid for stealing in these earthy times is high. No matter, Reichardt draws the curtain on FIRST COW by giving our heroes a respect and dignity they deserve. Friendship and loyalty is the lubricant.  11GUMS.