Desert Hearts (1985)

Desert Hearts (1985) (DVD) (*)

$26.99

Screened, competed or awarded at:
Sundance Film Festival
Other Film Festival Awards

Language Selections:
English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 )
German ( Dolby Digital 2.0 )
German ( Dolby Digital 5.1 )

Product Origin/Format:
Germany ( PAL/Region 0 )

Running Time:
91 min

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen (1.85:1)

Special Features:
Anamorphic Widescreen
Interactive Menu
Scene Access

Movie filmed in 1985 and produced in:
United States ( USA, Canada )

Directed By:
Donna Deitch

Written By:
Jane Rule
Natalie Cooper

Actors:
Helen Shaver ..... Vivian Bell
Patricia Charbonneau ..... Cay Rivvers
Audra Lindley ..... Frances Parker
Andra Akers ..... Silver
Dean Butler ..... Darrell
Gwen Welles ..... Gwen
James Staley ..... Art Warner
Katie La Bourdette ..... Lucille
Alex McArthur ..... Walter
Tyler Tyhurst ..... Buck
Denise Crosby ..... Pat
Antony Ponzini ..... Joe
Brenda Beck ..... Joyce
Sam Minsky ..... Best Man
Patricia Frazier ..... Change Girl

Synopsis:

Director Donna Deitch makes a strong impression in her first feature film, a simple story of a lesbian love affair, based on Jane Rule's 1964 novel Desert of the Heart. Helen Shaver stars as Vivian Bell, an uptight 35-year-old Columbia University professor who travels to Reno to get a divorce. She arrives in Reno on her way to Frances Parker's (Audra Lindley) ranch, where she is staying to establish six weeks of residency in order to obtain the divorce. Once at the ranch, Vivian catches the fancy of Frances's adopted daughter Cay (Patricia Charbonneau), a casino worker ten years younger than herself. Vivien tries to remain unruffled as Cay makes unabashed overtures to her. Cay thinks that all Vivian needs is the love of another woman, and soon enough the two are in each other's arms.

It is 1950s Nevada, and Professor Vivian Bell arrives to get a divorce. 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 ranchowner's daughter. The emotions released by their developing intimacy, and Vivian's insecurities about her feelings towards Cay, are played out against a backdrop of rocky landscapes and country and western songs.

Set in the late 1950s on a Nevada ranch inhabited by several women waiting for their divorces to be finalised. Focuses on the lesbian relationship that develops between one of the women and the adoptive daughter of the ranch owner who works as a 'change-purse' in a Reno Casino.

This product was added to our catalog on Tuesday 19 April, 2016.