Desert Hearts (B+ or 3/4 stars)
'Desert Hearts' (directed by Donna Deitch) has the distinction of being the 1st lesbian-themed romantic drama that ends on ambiguously positive note. In other words, no one is suicidal or irreversibly damaged. Set in 1959, the film opens with Vivian Bell (Helen Shaver), a severe-looking 35 yr. old NYC English professor arriving in Reno, Nevada to end her joyless 12 yr. marriage. Vivian is met at the train station by Frances Parker (Audra Lindley, aka Mrs. Roper of Threes Company), a former showgirl who now runs a comfortable about-to-be-divorced ranch where she will be staying for a while. Feeling completely out of her element, Vivian chooses to stay secluded in her bedroom; letting conflicting emotions of guilt, anger, regret, & confusion (about her sexuality) stew in her.
Despite the fact that she is uneasy around individuals who express their feelings & physicality freely, Vivian strikes up an unlikely friendship with daredevil Cay Rivvers (Patricia Charbonneau), a pretty, 25 yr. old free-spirited lesbian who works as a local casino cashier; and who views Frances as her adopted mom. The 2 women - who couldn't be more different mind, body, backgrounds, & experiences - share their life stories to each other over a series of instances (horseback rides, drives in the desert, an innocent kiss). And after several soul-crushing misunderstandings & meaningful conversations, Vivian's inhibitions fade a bit & some gentle love-making follows. This sensual love-making session compels both Vivian & Cay to look at who they are & what they want out from each other, emotionally.
'Desert Hearts', based on a novel by Jane Rule, follows Vivian's denial-of-self through every minor hesitation. The gay perspective is handled sensitively & naturally; as if we were looking in on actual lives. Helen Shaver is wonderful as the proud, repressed, buttoned-up Vivian; an intelligent woman who worries what a homosexual affair (or relationship) could do to her well-earned career. By the end, it's great to see Vivian let her hair down (literally), discover her sexual freedom, & own it. All she needed was someone special to light her fire & liberate her. That person would be Cay, beautifully portrayed by Patricia Charbonneau (pregnant during filming). Charbonneau plays Cay as a fearless, extroverted young woman who realizes that this fascination with Vivian may not be just another 1-night stand.
Audra Lindley is superb as Frances, a lonely older woman who doesn't want to let go of her surrogate daughter; and isn't wild about her lifestyle choices, either. Some of the smaller supporting performances are very lived-in, as well. I must also commend this film from a visual & aural standpoint. Some of the shots of the landscapes (with towering mountains in the sky & sunsets) are lovely. One of the more memorable shots is Cay's entrance into the movie as she drives backwards at top speed down a highway. And the soundtrack is chock-full of era music that suits the movie without being cloying. 'Desert Hearts' is not a BIG movie; or one that makes a big splash. But I am SO impressed by how powerful it is; given its unique subject matter and that it's a quiet film, by nature.
Despite the fact that she is uneasy around individuals who express their feelings & physicality freely, Vivian strikes up an unlikely friendship with daredevil Cay Rivvers (Patricia Charbonneau), a pretty, 25 yr. old free-spirited lesbian who works as a local casino cashier; and who views Frances as her adopted mom. The 2 women - who couldn't be more different mind, body, backgrounds, & experiences - share their life stories to each other over a series of instances (horseback rides, drives in the desert, an innocent kiss). And after several soul-crushing misunderstandings & meaningful conversations, Vivian's inhibitions fade a bit & some gentle love-making follows. This sensual love-making session compels both Vivian & Cay to look at who they are & what they want out from each other, emotionally.
'Desert Hearts', based on a novel by Jane Rule, follows Vivian's denial-of-self through every minor hesitation. The gay perspective is handled sensitively & naturally; as if we were looking in on actual lives. Helen Shaver is wonderful as the proud, repressed, buttoned-up Vivian; an intelligent woman who worries what a homosexual affair (or relationship) could do to her well-earned career. By the end, it's great to see Vivian let her hair down (literally), discover her sexual freedom, & own it. All she needed was someone special to light her fire & liberate her. That person would be Cay, beautifully portrayed by Patricia Charbonneau (pregnant during filming). Charbonneau plays Cay as a fearless, extroverted young woman who realizes that this fascination with Vivian may not be just another 1-night stand.
Audra Lindley is superb as Frances, a lonely older woman who doesn't want to let go of her surrogate daughter; and isn't wild about her lifestyle choices, either. Some of the smaller supporting performances are very lived-in, as well. I must also commend this film from a visual & aural standpoint. Some of the shots of the landscapes (with towering mountains in the sky & sunsets) are lovely. One of the more memorable shots is Cay's entrance into the movie as she drives backwards at top speed down a highway. And the soundtrack is chock-full of era music that suits the movie without being cloying. 'Desert Hearts' is not a BIG movie; or one that makes a big splash. But I am SO impressed by how powerful it is; given its unique subject matter and that it's a quiet film, by nature.