Rating: 
Summary: Opposites attract in this wonderful love story
Review: "Desert Hearts," directed by Donna Deitch, opens in Reno, Nevada in 1959. The film, which is based on a novel by Jane Rule, tells the story of Vivian (played by Helen Shaver), a prim-and-proper college professor who has come to Nevada to get a divorce. There she meets Cay (Patricia Charbonneau), a lusty, free-spirited casino worker. The relationship between these two beautiful women is the focus of the film."Desert Hearts" is a wonderful film. It's very erotic, tender, and moving. The women's story is complemented by excellent production values and effective use of period music. The performances are superb all around. The leads are backed by a great supporting cast; Audra Lindley is particularly good in a zesty, touching performance as Cay's stepmother. But it's the powerful chemistry between Shaver and Charbonneau which ultimately drives the film. Every scene between them is one to be savored. The DVD version of the film includes a fascinating feature-length commentary track by director Deitch. She discusses the original novel, her own relationship with novelist Rule, the casting process, the music of the film, key scenes, and much more. Particularly fascinating is the window she offers into the financial realities of independent filmmaking. "Desert Hearts" is about romantic love between two women. It's also about a mother-daughter relationship and about friendship between women. The beautiful scenes of the land and horses as well as the casino scenes give added appeal to the story of these interconnected relationships. I highly recommend this enjoyable and touching film.
Rating: 
Summary: Hottest Lesbian Love Story Ever!!
Review: ...and the performances weren't bad, either!! A star making vehicle for Patricia Charbonneau and Helen Shaver!!
Rating:
Summary: This One Started It All..
Review: Before Ellen, kd lang, and Chastity Bono came out, there was this Lesbian genre classic, and classily done, I might add.
The storyline was unique to movies at the time it was filmed, but the story is not. Anyone who has been in love with a supposed "straight" person, knows how real this movie can seem. The flirtation, the backing away, the come-hither looks, and finally the conquest all will bring back good (and painful) memories. In my opinion, the lesbian love scene between the two female leads is still the best yet on film - it sizzles without being too graphic.
I'm giving it only 4 stars because the acting is a little stilted at times (mostly from the star Patricia Charbonneau and her former on-screen love interest Dean Butler). If you can overlook that, and see the movie for what it was (lesbian/gay history) and what it is today (a great love story), you will enjoy it. The clothes, music, sets, (and the hair-dos!) are great and correct for the period.
Sit back, enjoy, and make sure your girlfriend is watching with you!
Rating:
Summary: Another respected scholar
Review: Desert Hearts is a beautiful love story. One couldn't help but be captivated by the performances of Shaver and Charbonneau. Their character's mutual respect for one another was crystal clear and refreshing. The music in this movie is very good, though at times it was so loud that you couldn't hear the dialogue. The love scene was completely sublime! Everything from the character's glances, kisses, the tear rolling down Shaver's cheek, the caressing, and sheer adoring of one another's bodies was the most beautifully satisfying, intimate scenes ever! The end leaves you cheering for the two to remain together.
Rating: 
Summary: Cliche ridden, but worthwhile
Review: Desert Hearts is a competent film, but its marred by stereotypical characters and a tendency toward melodrama. However, director Donna Deitch does a good job creating sexual tension between the two main characters. And the love scene is brilliant and achieves a genuine eroticism rarely seen in films. (Note the way the total absence of music heightens the sense of realism in this scene.)
Rating:
Summary: WELL DONE!
Review: Despite a few obvious cliches in plot and character, this movie is absolutely winning in every way, regardless of the label "lesbian movie". The performance by Helen Shaver should have won an Oscar nom; Patricia Charbonneau is fresh and adorable. The locations, music and heart-felt story draw you in from the very start, and the coming-of-age-at-middle-age is frank, and I think anyone would enjoy this film on its own terms.
Rating:
Summary: Good times'll hurt ya in the end - well maybe not.
Review: Disclaimer: I haven't read the book. Even if I had, a film will always get to stand on its merits when I review it.
A deserving little flick.
All the right details have been attended to but a lot of ragged edges show the tight budget. It looks as though editing was mainly afterthoughts and I'd swear a few scenes which would have made for a more cogent look at the town/country, north/south, queer/straight, family/no ties, out/closeted themes just didn't make it in.
However, since I am averse to slick Hollywood studio product, this picture's individuality alone makes the purchase worthwhile.
The screenplay is better than most and has some clever exchanges. Unfortunately for some of them, the delivery of the leads is inconsistent and a few witticisms just get clipped or swallowed. But there is enough lightness of touch for this not to bog the momentum down.
The soundtrack is integral and moves the action along.
The cinematography is warm and inviting
So that's Reno in the mid 20th century! Yeeha, I would have loved it. You could wear jeans and not get spat at by men. Out lesbians from the fifties tell me you could only get away with jodhpurs here in Australia on Sundays.
And that drive into town - - -
(I'm a petrol head and I'd kill for those chrome trimmed convertibles)
The road to town becomes a character, so well pitched is the director's sense of the place.
(Did anyone else pick the anachronism of those distinctly eighties taxi silhouettes seen through the chrome-edged windscreen of the Wild One's convertible? I bet there wasn't enough dough to re-shoot).
The ensemble gives a very good sense of the kooks and whackos you find in most tourist towns. "This town, these gamblers" says the pissed-off NY professor at one stage. Amongst the enthusiastic supports, Andra Akers does a great wanna-be with a heart of gold. And the Western Lawyer (love the string tie) handling the prof's decree application is just so darned good-humoured and sensitive to his client's stricken good taste.
With enough of the scene set so faithfully by the supporting cast, the superb locations and the designer, there is enough freedom for the 3 leads (I count the stepmother as equally strongly tied to the wild younger woman as her new romance - indeed towards the end, Cay says plainly to each of Vivienne and Frances "I love you" and to Frances "that'll never be it") to play out their dance in an extended enough set of scenes to give a really solid "feel" of the tensions in the women's relationships. I am full of admiration for Audra Lindley's nuanced portrayal of Frances, a woman whose soft edges would have been eroded by years of isolation in making a living without a partner's support. I liked particularly Lindley's ability to do the classic alcoholic snap from gentle to snarling.
I couldn't manage to get so persuaded by the other 2 leads about each of their particular personalities, although Helen Shaver does a great job of showing Vivienne's transition from a lonely, tense, fish-out-of water (what in hell would an academic have in common with anyone on a dude ranch?) to someone with a bit of confidence in the future. But they convince in the main action: their instant and overwhelming attraction for each other. Ms Deitch uses my favourite metaphor for women's sexuality in the scenes of mounting attraction between Cay and Vivienne - dripping wetness - with a nice control so as to contrast each protagonist's stage of sexual awareness and acceptance.
All up, a good love story between the two of them.
And even more convincingly, Deitch refuses to gild the lily with Happily Ever After once sexual tension has been released. She does a wonderful set-piece on a bewildered just-out lesbian trying to come to terms with how to behave in public. Gee I've been told to keep it down a few times myself and I laughed my head off at that scene. Beautifully observed.
I understand that Ms Deitch's main motivation for bringing the project to completion was to show a lesbian affair which didn't end in either the death of the protagonists or some similar reversion to repression of the great capacity for love and romance in women's relationships.
Well, she has shown a romance which only the hard-hearted could not appreciate. She has shown that nothing succeeds like persistence and patience. As long as you step up and play the game. But for my money, she has shown that women are supremely realists in the end. I'm so pleased that the ending isn't cut and dried. Because that's exactly what life is like.
You could call this little winner the ultimate antidote to the chick flick.
Rating:
Summary: One That Counts
Review: I absolutely loved this movie. I have seen other so-called Lesbian love stories but none have moved me like this one. I liked it so much I read Desert of the Heart by Jane Rule-which this movie is based on. Charbonneau and Shaver were superb and their performances left me speechless. I have watched this movie many times since I bought it on DVD and I love it even more each time I watch.
I highly recommed this movie. I also recommed the book if you'd like to get a more detailed look into the characers lives. I was a little disappointed with the ending...only because I didn't want the movie to be over. What can I say, this movie just reached in and put a string of lights around my heart.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome movie!
Review: I can't believe this video is no longer available! This is one of the best bi/lesbian movies ever made. I'm so bummed out...
Rating:
Summary: classic love story
Review: I could watch this movie over and over. Great performances of the lead actors. Although out of convention, the love scenes were shot and acted in very good taste. I love every scene of this movie, from beginning to end.
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