Desert Hearts
Tags: queer

Plot synopsis:
In 1959, Vivian Bell, a 35-year-old English professor at Columbia University in New York City, travels to Reno to establish residency in Nevada (a process that takes six weeks), in order to obtain a quickie divorce. She stays at a guest house ranch for women who are waiting for their divorces to be finalized. The guest ranch is owned by Frances Parker.
Vivian meets Cay Rivvers, a younger, free-spirited sculptor whom Frances loves as if she were her mother. Cay works at a casino as a change operator in Reno, and is ending a relationship with Darrell, her boss, because as she put it, she "allowed (her)self to be attracted to his attraction" for her. When Vivian arrives, Cay notices her immediately, and the tightly controlled and elegant Vivian, in turn, is taken aback by Cay's boldness and lack of concern of what others think of her (and her romantic/sexual preferences). Cay reveals that she has had relationships with women in the past. Frances jealously notices that Vivian is becoming a bigger and bigger part of Cay's life, and resents her for it, afraid that Cay will leave her and the ranch, and she will be left alone. Frances sees Cay as her only "family," even though Cay is not her actual child, but rather the daughter of Frances' "man" Glenn who has been dead several years.
When everyone attends an engagement party for Cay's best friend and co-worker, Silver, Cay drives a drunken Vivian to see Lake Tahoe afterwards and kisses her. Vivian returns the kiss passionately and is so surprised by her response to Cay's advance that she begs Cay to take her home. When they return to the ranch in the early morning, Frances has Vivian's bags and a taxi waiting for her, furious that (Frances presumed) she has seduced Cay. Cay leaves the ranch immediately, and Vivian transfers to a hotel room at the Riverside Casino for the rest of her stay.
After some days apart, both Cay and Vivian are clearly confused and hurt. Cay goes to visit Vivian at the hotel and overcomes Vivian's resistance to making love with her, and they start a relationship. With the impending finalization of Vivian's divorce, the two must sort out the future of their relationship. Vivian is afraid of what people in her academic circle will think of her being in a relationship with another woman, and Cay is unsure of what she would ever do in New York City. At Silver's wedding, Vivian and Cay are in attendance, Frances and Cay are brought back together, and Cay admits to Frances that Vivian has "reached in and put a string of lights around my heart."
In the final scene, after Vivian's divorce has become finalized, she packs up and goes to the train station to return to New York. Cay accompanies her to the station, and as the train is pulling out, Vivian convinces Cay to come with her, at least as far as the next station.

Review: I was 17 when I first watched this movie and I had never seen a lesbian film before which treated the lesbian characters with such respect.
Two examples:  1) when "the professor" comes out of her room after brooding for several days she is asked by another guest what she has been doing in there - the eccentric, grizzled ranch manager (Audra Lindley - who looks like she has been burned into the Nevada landscape)answers like a schoolmarm, "whatever it is, it's too deep for us to understand"  2)  while horseback riding in the desert a Marilyn wannabe in blue jeans gets off her horse and says "my girdle is killing me!" For me this is a near perfect film.
Unlike the other commentors, I think the characters are fascinating, each scene stands on its own as a perfect little vignette, and not only did I find the film enjoyable when it first came out, I have watched it at least 18 times since and it always holds up beautifully.
She played this young, dark haired, beautiful, free spirited, and passionate woman, Cay, who compelled Helen Shaver to look into her heart and finally allowed herself to admit her feelings for Cay. Patricia is really HOT in this movie.
After closing herself up for years, meeting and knowing Cay finally forced her to face her true emotions and admitted her feelings for Cay. These 2 characters' personalities are really opposite of each other.
This movie described really well how Helen Shaver struggled with her own feelings and the society's expectations, and the hardship the society and Cay's family gave to the same sex couple.
Vivian is initially repressed but once she follows her heart, you can feel these 2 women are truly in love and enjoy being intimate with each other.
There is Great chemistry between Patricia and Helen, which makes this movie very real.
The intimacy follows in a later scene when Charbonneau tracks Shaver to her downtown hotel room and initiates a long, erotic love scene which isn't at all pornographic or exploitative.
The two women love one another, but one is after all an uptight distinguished author and the other, though equally intelligent, goes with the flow, as they say, and has been "kicked out of college for unnatural acts." The film ends ambiguously.
I first saw it in 1990 when I was 17 and it had a huge impact on me, I had never really enjoyed romances before with the possible exception of "Marty", but this movie with the 2 very attractive, intelligent, charming leads(Helen Shaver & Patricia Charbonneau), insightful script, subtle direction and gorgeous landscape shocked and moved me.
I would like to see this movie given the credit it deserves, for starters I would like to see a deluxe DVD re-issue, complete with a documentry including interviews with the cast and crew, background notes about the novel it is based on "Desert of the heart" by Jane Rule, etc, etc.
It wasn't supposed to be an action flick, but it does have a good story though I would have preferred to see it go a little deeper emotionally, but you have to understand that this was a "period" film and given the era the movie was set in, the emotions of the characters make perfect sense.
I can't tell you how many times I saw "Desert Hearts" in a theater but for months after, a certain song (or a lone train whistle) would evoke sweet haunting memories...As for Cay and Vivian, Patricia Charbonneau and Helen Shaver portray two sympathetic and instantly familiar female characters, but I've gotta give this to Donna, too.
It has a good feel for the period in which it takes places (the late Eisenhower years.)The theme of a lesbian coming to terms with her identity, as in this movie, is still relevant today - for a lesbian or gay man.
And it is great to see finally a gay-themed movie that is NOT exploitative (like all those kinky lesbian vampire flicks) and has a happy and "gay" ending!.
The scene stops the film dead in its tracks, but director Donna Deitch (making her feature debut) has to be commended for approaching the subject with such candor and optimism (some of it a bit forced, to be sure), leaning only slightly on the awkward self-awareness usually found in a Hollywood coming-out story..
This movie, Desert hearts, is a love story of hurting hearts and hope growing.
Just a slow (like a slow dance) but beautiful telling of a tale of two very different women meeting as it makes you want them to allow their hearts to feel the joy.
The love scenes are tasteful, while Charbonneau steals much of the acting thunder with a terrific performance.
I also liked the textures of the film, capturing the feel of the desert, the realistic attitudes of the characters, the honesty of the rawness of the emotions.
She's unsatisfied with her marriage, and feels out of place at the ranch she stays on, she finds herself increasingly drawn to Cay Rivers, an open and self-assured lesbian, and the ranch owner's daughter."Desert Hearts" is notable for being the first film to depict a lesbian relationship where both characters enjoy a satisfactory ending, in contrast to previously released films such as "Personal Best" that focus less on the relationship of the main characters, and where one returns to a relationship with a man.The history of gay and lesbian film themes is interesting in how it shifts over time, and I have to wonder if the representations are in any way accurate.
Natalie Cooper wrote a great script that feels just right.Patricia Charbonneau is just perfect as Cay, a free spirit that just wants to fly.
She was the perfect tonic for the repressive Helen Shaver's ailment.What I really liked was that this was a realistic love story.
It mirrored life in that respect; it just featured two women, that's all.Audra Lindley was great as Cay's stepmother, and added more realism to the story.
also reminds me of me and my girlfriend whom is 10 years younger than i am shes a English teacher and I'm a artist she also thinks i look like h shaver everything is spot on in this movie pretty convincing ,they sure did a nice love scene.The book by Jane Rule is called "Desert of the Heart." both the book and the movie are good.
When I first saw this lovely film in 1985, it was the first time that I had ever seen a movie that treated a lesbian or gay relationship in a positive light with characters that were both warm and real.
As a gay man, I found this film to be like water in a desert at the time of it's release and, viewing it fifteen years later, it remains fresh and highly erotic, even in light of the movies that have followed it's lead in the last few years.
Shaver and Charbonneau are wonderful (Cay is one of my all-time favorite female characters) and the late Audra Lindley gives a performance of great vulnerable humanity that will be a revelation to those only familiar with her from "Three's Company" and "The Ropers.".
this film is beautiful, when it came out i thought that all lesbians look like the cigar chewing suzanne york's 'childie' in The Killing of Sister George,i have since found out that although a few do this does not have to be the case!!
it is definitely a lesbian feel good movie,my God they don't even end up with a stratch let alone suicide for being 'dirty lesbians',so if you put it in the context of when it 'came out',1985 it really has to be seen as a pure classic.
I respect the fact that this film was made in a mature way, since movies with lesbian characters often contain silly jokes or numerous stereotypes.
Time, heat and wide-open desert give the story a gravity and sad emptiness the film doesn't quite capture, and Rule's writing is really a quite beautiful and multi-layered affair.
But the movie does a wonderful job of juxtaposing the carefree passion of young, unattached Cay with the stifling oppression that Vivian longs to divorce.
This movie takes a real look at a Love affair that just happens to be between two women.It shows them as they are real people, not depraved animals as some people would like to think.Real emotions,real Love,real caring..
But that could not do any good for the movie, as they failed to depict those attentions in a classy way.The acting skill of all the characters made a huge dent on the film.
This movie has some of the hottest, erotic lesbian scenes ever filmed.
Okay, I keep reading people's comments on how they found the film 'boring.' You have to remember first of all.....when this movie came out it was a huge deal....a major step for lesbians.
All we had until this was an arm wrestling scene with a quick kiss in 'personal best' and the girl didn't get the girl in the end like this film.
I think if you take the time to look at all the supporting characters you will find the movie hilarious!
The characters were very well thought out.....every scene is precise and funny.....open your eyes, relax and enjoy the movie...the sex scene will come soon enough.
I say the people who call the movie boring are either very young, not gay, or newly open with themselves about thier sexuality - meaning they were not around for years anticipating this film.
While there she meets Cay Rivers and Cay opens up a whole new world to her and makes Vivian realize there's more to life than her stuffy, professional existence in New York.In addition, this movie has the most touching, intimate, erotic, and soulful love scene that I have EVER seen between 2 women in a movie..
There are some of us that would like to see lesbian movies that have a plot beyond sex.
'Desert Hearts' shows that we have the same feelings, emotions, need and desire for love and companionship as they do.
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.
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 an 8 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.
With a fine performance by Helen Shaver, a good one by Patricia Charbonneau and gorgeous locations but with a weak script and a way over the top performance by Audra Lindley that detract from the movie overall.
Desert Hearts was revolutionary because it treated a first lesbian love affair like a basic romance.The heterosexual audience has had this classic romantic tension story for years - guy doesn't know he needs to settle down, meets girl, gets knocked off his feet and changes his life's direction--sometimes unnerving himself and other people.
English Literature professor comes to Reno for a divorce in the late 50's, falls in love despite personal costs.
It is a great premise, unfortunately our professor Vivian Bell played by Helen Shaver is just too repressed.
We know she is supposed to fall in love but by the time she loosens up enough to admit to a feeling we don't care all that much if she ever does find love.There needed to be a scene that explored her world a bit.
Cay (the lover played by Patricia Charboneau) we can read and identify with as she struggles against the pressures of family and co-workers, but Vivian has no past and barely any emotional presence in the present.The story and characters ring true to the west and the soundtrack is full of the kind of music I grew up with.
Great performances from Helen Shaver and newcomer Patricia Charbonneau.
Set in 1959, Vivian Bell (Shaver), a 35-year-old uptight literature professor from NYC arrives to Reno, Nevada to obtain a quick divorce.
One might find it is quite pleasing that a jaundiced eye has never become prominent in the plot, no homophobic straight hillbillies, everyone is pretty cool with regard to Cay's unconventional conducts, and being a gorgeous beauty like her, men can easily one-sidedly mad about her, which could have served as a fertile ground of jealousy and violence, fortunately it is not being tapped into the script, which unerringly homes in on Vivian and Cay's romantic bonding, only Andra Lindley's Frances, is the ostensible exemplar of malice, yet whose growing hostility towards Vivian is more originated from her own selfish possession of Cay than any other objective arguments.So, in a nutshell, DESERT HEARTS deserves a re-discovery 3 decades after its release, it is tender, heartfelt, sincere, in spite of telling a conventional same-sex love story with every predictable twist and turn, this low budget labour-of-love of Donna Deitch even manages to pull off an entirely satisfactory coda which defies to be a stereotyped Hollywood ending and leaves a sweet taste in our imaginations..
Vivian Bell, played by Helen Shaver, arrives into 1950's Fresno for a quickie divorce, boarding with a friendly mom-like landlord and her employees of her ranch.
probably one of the most famous and pioneering lesbian love stories put on screen that was a fine example for shows such as the l word that would follow some twenty years later.
one gets to really care about Vivian and cay as the story progresses and their feelings for one another are realized and come to full circle by the end of the movie.
This time around I liked it even more and began to re-appreciate how special some of the performances were.Now, 15 years later, during a purge of video tapes, I've rediscovered DESERT HEARTS.
For me, it got in the way of the story telling and continuity.Although I've discounted politics in writing this review, I have to admit that DESERT HEARTS was surely a brave film in its time.
Professor Vivian Bell(Helen Shaver)travels from New York to Reno, Nevada to get a divorce.
The quiet reserved professor meets and falls in love with a young, openly lesbian woman, Cay(Patricia Charbonneau), ten years her junior.Character development is effortless and the explicit love scenes are tender, yet hot.
I've heard and read so much about this film over the years,but never have a chance to watch the film.Lesbians always consider that this movie is the most classic one.
Although I didn't really like it that much the first time, certain scenes & lines from the movie stuck with me.
The whole love story was built around lingering glances, shy smiles, & building sexual tension.Patricia Charbonneau & Helen Shaver deliver wonderful & believable performances.
She works at a casino, changing dollar bills for silver dollars so that people can play the slot machines.The basic plot of the movie is whether Vivian and Cay will have a lesbian love affair.
I think this is the best underrated lesbian film I've ever came across and it's still great for over 30 years like!
The same for Patricia Charbonneau, she really was sexy and provide such a great role as Cay Rivvers!
She probably got married pretty young by the looks of her!In the film, I even loved Audra Lindley as Frances Parker who let Vivian stay at her place while she was going through the divorce.
I honestly wish they didn't make her character into such a control freak because she doesn't look like the person who would shout at your face!This movie should really have deserved more awards because really, this movie has great tastes in music and of course, 80's love ;).
DESERT HEARTS proves that a truly great romance does not necessarily have to fit the "boy-meets-girl" paradigm; this love story between two women is gorgeous, achingly romantic, and sensual and tender in equal measure.The setting is Reno NV in the 1950s, and director Donna Deitch has invested her film with a gorgeous sense of both the time and the place.
We are never really given a concrete reason for the divorce except that she is clearly an unhappy woman.There are a few similarities here to the 1939 film THE WOMEN; Vivian comes to stay at a ranch, run by a blowzy woman named Frances Parker, played to a fare-thee-well by the late Audra Lindley, who manages to recall Marjorie Main in the 1939 film while at the same time creating a character completely unique and original.Among the ranch denizens is Cay Rivvers (Patricia Charbonneau), Frances's stepdaughter and an outspoken Lesbian at a time when Lesbians were not outspoken.
Romances tend to follow a certain formula, and this one is no exception, with the added tension of Vivian's difficulty in coming out (if only to herself) and the near-destruction of the bond between Cay and Frances, who loves her stepdaughter but can't understand Lesbianism.
What really places this film high in the pantheon of LGBT love stories is the romance.
And in addition to Lindley we are treated to a great supporting cast, most notably Andra Akers as Cay's friend (and possibly sometime lover), who in the course of the film marries a man who seems to know all about her.
Dietch and Company proved here that a great romantic movie can be made with two women, or two men, or a man and a woman, so long as the characters and their emotions are as genuine as they are here.This one is a must-see.