In First Cow, directed by Kelly Reichardt (In competition at Berlinale 2020, a neo-pantheistic-western) – an ordinary cow is sent on a float in 19th century Oregon: the ludicrous of this image is sustained by the slow pace of the raft arriving at the shore, where Americans are waiting in awe – it’s the first time they see such an animal - it’s unsure if they see it as exhibit or an alien of some sort). Being the first cow in those territories, it belonges to the bountiful: Chief Factor takes it home with him, where he keeps the cow as a trophy showed to his earnest guests. For those richer than him, the Chief Factor is a daisy, but for those poorer – he’s a king. These hierarchies are important because in Reichardt’s movie they lose their dimension once an amateur chef and a fugitive Chinese become the masters of commerce, having nothing but a bright mind. 

Georgiana Mușat

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Journalist and film critic, with a master's degree in film critics. Collaborates with Scena9, Acoperișul de Sticlă, FILM and FILM Menu magazines. For Films in Frame, she brings the monthly top of films and writes the monthly editorial Panorama, published on a Thursday. In her spare time, she retires in the woods where she pictures other possible lives and flying foxes.

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