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Desert Hearts Poster

Desert Hearts

"In 1959, Vivian Bell came to Reno, Nevada for a quick divorce. Of all the people she met there, the one who surprised her the most was herself."

While waiting for her divorce papers, a repressed literature professor finds herself unexpectedly attracted by a carefree, spirited young woman named Cay.

Top Cast

  • Helen Shaver

    Helen Shaver

    Vivian Bell

  • Patricia Charbonneau

    Patricia Charbonneau

    Cay Rivvers

  • Audra Lindley

    Audra Lindley

    Frances Parker

  • Andra Akers

    Andra Akers

    Silver

  • Gwen Welles

    Gwen Welles

    Gwen

  • Dean Butler

    Dean Butler

    Darrell

  • Katie La Bourdette

    Katie La Bourdette

    Lucille

  • James Staley

    James Staley

    Art Warner

  • Denise Crosby

    Denise Crosby

    Pat

Overview

While waiting for her divorce papers, a repressed literature professor finds herself unexpectedly attracted by a carefree, spirited young woman named Cay.

Rating

7.1 / 10
175 Reviews
2 Popular

2 Reviews

  • talisencrw
    talisencrw
    9 Jul 28, 2016

    Lately I felt I couldn't consider myself a self-respecting cinephile unless I at the very least sampled more works both by female directors and from the gay/lesbian/related subgenre. Fortunately my university offered in its library collection an assortment I decided to peruse occasionally. Although Deitch's film is a romantic drama featuring lesbians, I still readily enjoyed it. Glad I took a chance on it and decided to expand my horizons as a adventurous film aficionado.

  • tmdb40011370
    tmdb40011370
    8 Nov 21, 2019

    As a lesbian myself, I have to say I was extremely grateful when a friend recommended I watch this film some 12 odd years ago when I was a willowy 14/15 year old realising that my private emotions were geared towards my own sex but I didn't want to tell the world just yet. I must admit to struggling to stay with this slow burner, probably due to my impatient teenage angst. But stay with it I did and I have to say it was well worth the journey! Yes, it had a relatively graphic but erotic lesbian love scene, but the film is more than that, not least for the great character study of the two protagonists, and a rather uplifting conclusion. I have seen many lesbian-love story films since then, not least "Below her Mouth" and "Blue is the Warmest Color" - both of them exceptionally well done. But for me, "Desert Hearts" still stands out as an emotive and well handled love story that will stay with me until my dying days.

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