First Cow is the seventh film from director Kelly Reichardt, and it’s based on the book “The Half-Life” by Jonathan Raymond. It tells the story of Otis “Cookie” Figowitz (Magaro), a talented cook making his way in the Oregon Territory during the 1820’s. He befriends a Chinese immigrant named King-Lu (Lee), and the two men embark on a business venture involving the first cow in the territory. They need the milk from the cow to make and sell their buttermilk biscuits, but they don’t own the cow. They must stealthily milk the cow each night without its owners knowing.
Source: Cinema Styles: First Cow earns the Blue Ribbon | News | recorderonline.com