First Cow

In early nineteenth century Oregon a cook and a Chinese immigrant meet. They begin secretly milking the only cow in the territory at night and selling cakes made with it. The film builds this small enterprise as the opening moment of American capitalism: the capital belongs to someone else, the labour is theirs, and being caught is fatal. The narrative draws its tension not from large events but from the cow's owner wondering what gives the cakes their taste. Kelly Reichardt directed, adapting Jonathan Raymond's novel with him. It uses a narrow frame and is shot almost entirely in natural light. Who it's for: those who like slow, quiet westerns built on friendship. Who it's not for: viewers wanting action or incident; almost nothing happens.