Rating: 
Summary: The chemistry between the women is what makes it work.
Review: This could have been very pedestrian because it tells the old story of the repressed lesbian freed by the wild spirit of another woman but this movie goes beyond that. It is about two real people which is what all books and movies should strive for. I have read the book and recommend it because it delves into more detail than the movie does and the movie is more an adaptation than a complete re-telling of the book. It is interesting to see what women had to go through to obtain a "quickie" divorce in 1959, to be exact. Helen Shaver is both strong and vulnerable as Vivien and Patricia Charbanneau a maverick who slowly reveals her vulnerability to the Helen Shaver character. Each gives the other the strength to be more herslf. THe DVD is of excellent quality and one of the extra fetures is a commentary by the director as the movie rolls on. I find that in most DVD's and find it distracting. I think it would be much better to let the director speak in person and show various scenes as she talks about them rather than reshowing the entire movie. I really hope they change that. THe author of the book "Desert Hearts" is Jane RUle and I really recommend buying it. If not for the subject matter, it would probably have been a mainstream hit.
Rating: 
Summary: I Liked Jane Rule's Novel MUCH Better, But . . .
Review: This film contains what may well be the most powerful & well-done love scene I have ever seen on film. If only everyone's "first time" with his or her lover could be this beautiful! Ah, well. Actors can rehearse, as Shaver & Charbonneau did, according to director Dietch. But ordinary real-life lovers have no such luxury . . .My main problem with the film was its portrayal of Frances Packer. Don't get me wrong--Audra Lindley's performance is terrific (& such a pleasant surprise after only having seen her in __Three's Company__!). But Dietch & Cooper made Mrs. Packer out to be a venomously lonely & alcoholic homophobe. Rule's portrayal of her in the novel is much more sympathetic & broad-minded. I believe at least one other reviewer made similar objections, but I just had to put my 2 cents in. In the end, I applaud Ms. Dietch & everyone involved in Desert Hearts for working so hard to bring this groundbreaking film into being!
Rating:
Summary: "The" original "Classic"
Review: This is a great movie to watch with a new "close" friend if you are trying to determine if they are in the life, or want to be. It really appeals to closeted lesbians, who never wanted to think they were lesbians. The acting is great and so is the setting-late 50's, early 60's Nevada. I think this movie has been seen by "every" lesbian the world over at some point.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent, and very well done!
Review: This is a very entertaining movie,without being pretentious. It was quite refreshing to see a lesbian themed movie with intelligent, and attractive characters. The love scenes were very well directed and believable. I do have to admit that the movie is much more entertaining than the book it is based on. The soundtrack is incorporated expertly into the script, and sets a nice mood throughout the movie. If you are looking for a pleasant bi/lesbian movie to watch, you won't find much better than Desert Hearts! I'm sorry to find that this movie isn't available.
Rating:
Summary: A very good movie but without English or Chinese Subtitles
Review: This is a very good movie. However, my DVD version do not have English or Chinese Subtitles. Although I know English, anyway, verbal English is more difficult to understand than written English. I love this movie very much. I really hope that I can understand the whole story and know exactly every word what the casts are saying.
Rating:
Summary: can't miss
Review: This is a wonderful movie of two gorgeous women who make love and one drops her water onto the other while they're at it. I watch that part over and over. And I'm a girl.
Rating:
Summary: Hot, hot, hot, hot!!!!!!
Review: This is definitely my favorite lesbian movie, maybe the best ever, along with Lianna.
Rating:
Summary: that's what love and tenderness is all about
Review: This is one of the first films i ever saw about women's love.It showed some special love relationship i never saw before,some tenderness and softness you can't ever reach with man,not only sexually wise.The film gives a wonderfull feeling of the specialty in women's ability to understand each other and feel things under the surface.I beleive that at certain situations it can happen to every woman, straight or not. the film is wonderfully done,passing the Reno's conservative atmosphere on one hand and the beautiful desert atmosphere on the other. The acting of Shaver and Charbonneau is very persuasive and seems like they act themselves. when one meets true love,i beleive there are no borders of any kind, sexually or others. The one real sex scene is beautifully done, with a lot of passion and lust on one hand and a lot of modesty on the other.Sex scene does'nt have to be vulgar and blunt.you can get the feeling, even more when it's done so nice and gentle. i could watch this film over and over again and every time see something else in it, specially because of it's non violent atmosphere and the love and tenderness it projects. And,yes things like that can happen and life can change all of a sudden.
Rating:
Summary: helen shaver very realistic
Review: this is one of the greatest films i've seen in a long
time.it's nice to see a love story between two women
where noone gets killed or is turning to a woman
because she has been done wrong by some man.why
aren't there more movies like this.the two stars
had the best chemistry between two people i've
ever seen.opened my eyes to the great acting
of helen shaver.her being so nervous being with
a woman for the first time was so realistic. the best.
Rating:
Summary: One of the Best Lesbian Themed Movies
Review: This is what a lesbian film should be, a real story, good acting, and a decent, though not terrific screenplay...sure it can be slow, but it leaves you wanting a sequel, in essence you gain an interest in the characters as well as their plight..
The characters actually develop, and the cinematographer did a fine job...the supporting cast was strong...Desert Hearts will likely be a gold standard of lesbian film making...It is a must for the video library, not simply because you might want a quality lesbian themed film, but simply because you want a quality film...
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