Desert Hearts

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DVD details

Actor: Andra Akers, Brenda Beck, Dean Butler (II), Patricia Charbonneau, Sheila Balter
Primary Contributor: Patricia Charbonneau
Primary Contributor: Helen Shaver
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0; Spanish (Subtitled); French (Subtitled)
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Letterboxed, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.85:1
Running Time: 96 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2001-01-23
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)

DVD Reviews of Desert Hearts

DVD Review: It was such a great relief for me that there were no cruelty such as intimidation
Summary: 4 Stars

A woman's love is a priceless enlightenment, undeniably superior over the others for its endurance, strength and wisdom. Most of films portray the loving relationship between women ends up in sorrowful tragedy, often death by suicide or judicial imprisonment or even execution. I strongly believe that it is really unfair to label the attraction between women such as forbidden love affair. What is really the harm they can cause to man kind? Practically none to be known of throughout human history. Men continue to jeopardise women's freedom to love for men's own egoistical problems that they want to own women. I foresee that the end of human civilisation comes sooner if we do not correct our attitude. In fact, there have been more women on the earth than men. Women should have had slightly larger ownership of this planet. There are 103 women for ever 100 men. We have to give those 3 women impartial means of companionship. If they want to chose another woman. Let them pursue their freedom to do so. It was such a great relief for me that there were no cruelty such as intimidation or violence implied upon Cay and Vivian and that the film ended with some hope that they can meet again in the future. Cay's free spirited persona played by Patricia Charbonneau was awesome and refreshing. All these makes the film quite appealing and worthy of praise.Every female child has dreams of being swept up into a great adventure, of being the beautiful princess. Lamentably, when women grow up, they are often swept up into a life filled merely with demands, duty and responsibility. Many women are tired, struggling under the senseless pressure to be of a faithful servant, or a caregiver for children, husband or father and like.

DVD Review: Surprisingly Good
Summary: 4 Stars

I wasn't expecting much from this film when I ordered it. Set in the late 50's and involving a professor and a change girl, I just didn't expect it to go anywhere for me. I couldn't have been more wrong. I absolutely loved it. The acting was strong and very realistically done. I thoroughly enjoyed this and would recommend it fully.

DVD Review: Desert Hearts (Two-Disc Vintage Collection)
Summary: 4 Stars

I saw it many years ago and even after a long time I still appreciate it. It is a fantastic classic love story, no more no less. Very interesting this special edition with the new interviews to the actresses.

DVD Review: Still The Best
Summary: 5 Stars

Desert Hearts is still the best lesbian film ever made and still has one of the hottest and most beautifully shot sex scenes (straight or gay) in all of film making. Would have liked more/longer interviews with the director and actors on the bonus disc though.

DVD Review: Old fashioned but relevant
Summary: 5 Stars

The movie was a bit melodramatic but very effective in making it's point. As a woman who was happily married for 27 of 29 years and only discovered my "true" sexuality at almost 50yrs old, I can relate to the hesitancy of pursing this type of relationship. Based on my experience, I found it depicted a fairly realistic view of a female to female relationship.

Description of Desert Hearts

When college professor Vivian Bell (Helen Shaver) arrives in Reno in 1959 to get a quickie divorce, the last thing on her mind is romance. A prim intellectual, crippled by a sterile marriage ("We're a professional couple") and hiding behind her education, she moves into a ranch belonging to Frances Parker (Audra Lindley) and tries to keep to herself. But Parker's beautiful, sassy tomboy of a stepdaughter proves to be quite a distraction, and a love affair slowly blossoms. Cay (Patricia Charbonneau) refuses to be bound by convention or by expectations of how a nice girl should behave, and her devil-may-care attitude both attracts and terrifies the nervous professor.

Shaver is terrific as Vivian, and the slow thawing of her character is beautifully paced--you can feel the tension break when she finally lets down her guard. Another strong performance comes from Audra Lindley as Frances. She's a tough old bird with a drinking problem, but Lindley keeps the character from descending into stereotype, and she gives full rein to the tragic side of this lonely woman, especially as she struggles with her reaction to the developing relationship between Cay and Vivian.

There are scenes in Desert Hearts that would be painfully clich?d if they appeared in a heterosexual romance, and even here they only just escape that fate--relying a little too much on significant glances and lines that just don't sound like real conversation. Nevertheless, first-time director Deitch breathes new life into a standard straight-arrow-meets-free-spirit plot, and steadfastly refuses to turn this love story into an "issues movie." Add to that a strong feel for the period and a soundtrack filled with the likes of Patsy Cline and Gene Vincent, and the result is a warm, well-acted film that packs a real emotional punch. --Simon Leake

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