The American West is about as well-trod territory as there is in movies, but Kelly Reichardt keeps unearthing new treasures. Her latest excavation, “First Cow,” is her most sublime yet. Like many of Reichardt’s previous films, it’s set in Oregon but in a seemingly unremarkable in-between moment in history. It’s...
Valley Is Diverse, Invisible, and Most Productive Ag Region in U.S.
California’s San Joaquin Valley is often dismissed as small and rural. To the contrary, it’s a massive area of farms, ranches, small towns, and growing cities, emblematic of the American West as a blend of Old West values and New West technology. It’s also historically distinctive as one of the...