Desert Hearts (1985)

The classic 1985 lesbian romance film Desert Hearts is based on Jane Rule’s 1964 novel Desert of the Heart and was directed and produced by out filmmaker Donna Deitch.

DESERT HEARTS

1985 | USA

 Director: Donna Deitch

Screenplay: Natalie Cooper

Based on: “Desert of the Heart” (1964) by Jane Rule

 Starring: Helen Shaver, Patricia Charbonneau, Audra Lindley, Andra Akers, Gwen Welles, Dean Butler, James Staley and Katie La Bourdette

Set in 1959, the film introduces us to 35-year-old English professor Vivian (Helen Shaver), who moves to Reno, Nevada to divorce her husband. While staying at a ranch, she meets Cay (Patricia Charbonneau), a change operator at a local casino. Cay quickly takes an interest in the reserved professor and, despite some initial reluctance, a romance begins to develop between the two women.

Deitch originally bought the rights to Rule’s novel because she wanted to create a lesbian-themed film that would break away from tropes and stereotypes. She explained:

“There hadn’t been a film about a relationship between two women that hadn’t ended in suicide like The Children’s Hour (1961) or in a bisexual triangle (Personal Best, 1982). I wanted to make just a love story, like any other love story between a man and a woman, handled in a frank and real way.”

Casting proved difficult, as many actors refused to take roles in queer films at the time—even the two leads were warned that the parts could end their careers. Eventually, however, Deitch found her ideal cast. After four years of fundraising—and even selling her house—she was able to make Desert Hearts.

Upon release, the film performed well at the box office, grossing $2.5 million in the US and Canada, and went on to become a queer cinema classic. Desert Hearts achieved what Deitch had intended: it presented a memorable, sensual romance between two women and featured a rare happy ending for its lesbian characters.

You can find DESERT HEARTS streaming on Criterion (Canada/USA) & HBO Max (USA), for rent or purchase through AppleTV & Amazon (USA), and also available on DVD & Blu-ray.