First Cow

First Cow

Year: 2019

Runtime: 122 mins

Language: English

Director: Kelly Reichardt

Echo Score: 78
WesternDramaWesternsWild west outlaws and gunfightsShow All…

In the 1820s Oregon Territory, a quiet and talented cook journeys west in search of opportunity. He encounters a Chinese immigrant with similar aspirations, and the two form an unlikely partnership. Driven by ambition, they devise a risky plan to steal milk from a wealthy landowner's prized Jersey cow—the first and only one in the territory—hoping to capitalize on its novelty and build a new life for themselves.

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Timeline & Setting – First Cow (2019)

Explore the full timeline and setting of First Cow (2019). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1820s (frontier Oregon Country) and present-day framing

The action begins in the 1820s Oregon Country, a rough frontier where fur traders, settlers, and Indigenous and immigrant communities intersect. There is a present-day prologue revealing two skeletons, signaling the long memory of violence in the region. The period is defined by hardship, scarcity, and the lure of wealth through new foods and trade.

Location

Oregon Country, Chief Factor's Estate

Set on the Oregon Country frontier in the early 1820s, the story centers on a fur-trading outpost and the estate of a powerful Chief Factor. The river and surrounding forests frame daily life, where commerce, risk, and survival intersect. A present-day framing shows skeletons found by a riverside, adding a modern echo to the frontier tale.

🌲 Frontier 💼 Trade Economy 🏛️ Outpost Life

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 12:21

Main Characters – First Cow (2019)

Meet the key characters of First Cow (2019), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Otis 'Cookie' Figowitz (John Magaro)

A quiet, skilled baker traveling with a loud, quarrelsome group of fur trappers. He uses his culinary talent to win friends, influence markets, and dream of a future in San Francisco. Cookie is practical, compassionate, and loyal to Lu, even as he navigates a world that undervalues his craft.

👨‍🍳 Baker 🍞 Breadmaking 🤝 Partnership

King-Lu (Orion Lee)

A Chinese immigrant on the run for killing a Russian man, King-Lu is wary, clever, and pragmatic. He partners with Cookie to pursue a shared dream of stability and a possible farm, using wit and grit to survive frontier dangers. He remains fiercely protective of their venture, even as risks mount.

🧭 Immigrant 🌾 Farming 🤝 Alliance

Chief Factor (Toby Jones)

A wealthy English trader who wields considerable power over the outpost and its fortunes. He treats the burgeoning cookie business as a threat to his control and responds with coercion and violence when his interests are challenged. His authority and ambition drive much of the conflict in the story.

💼 Trader 🏛️ Power ⚖️ Authority

Totillicum (Gary Farmer)

A respected Native frontier figure who navigates the shifting balance of power on the Oregon frontier. He forms alliances and uses his knowledge of the land to aid Cookie and Lu when danger escalates. Totillicum embodies a connection to the land and a pragmatic approach to survival.

🪶 Indigenous 🌊 River Life 🤝 Ally

Totillicum's Wife (Sabrina Mary Morrison)

A member of Totillicum's household who embodies hospitality and resilience in a harsh frontier world. Her presence underscores the importance of community and family under pressure, and she plays a role in supporting Cookie through the aftermath of danger.

👩 Indigenous Woman 🌺 Indigenous Community 💞 Family & Survival

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 12:21

Major Themes – First Cow (2019)

Explore the central themes of First Cow (2019), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🍞 Food & Fortune

Food becomes a vehicle for wealth on the frontier: Cookie and Lu turn a simple milk-based treat into a booming market. The bakery venture exposes the pressure between survival, ingenuity, and risk. As profits rise, so does the danger from those who feel threatened by new wealth.

🌐 Cultural Encounter

A Chinese immigrant and an American frontier cook form a fragile partnership, illustrating cross-cultural exchange and tension. The story probes how identity, language, and unfamiliar customs shape commerce and trust. Ambition pushes them to blend traditions, sometimes cynically, sometimes creatively.

💰 Ambition & Risk

The lure of wealth drives bold, sometimes reckless decisions, such as hiding money in a tree and courting danger. The frontier economy rewards daring schemes while exposing vulnerabilities to those in power. The pursuit of fortune tests loyalty, ethics, and the limits of self-preservation.

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 12:21

Unlock the Full Story of First Cow

Don't stop at just watching — explore First Cow in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what First Cow is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

First Cow Summary

Read a complete plot summary of First Cow, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

First Cow Summary

First Cow Timeline

Track the full timeline of First Cow with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

First Cow Timeline

First Cow Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of First Cow that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

First Cow Spoiler-Free Summary

More About First Cow

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Explore More About Movie First Cow

First Cow (2019) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

First Cow (2019) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline

First Cow (2019) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow