Desert Hearts

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Desert Hearts

R

1985

1h 36m

Romance

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

77%

Tomatometer

35 Reviews

77%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

A New York professor (Helen Shaver) divorces her husband and has an affair with another woman (Patricia Charbonneau) in 1959 Reno.

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Andrea Thompson

Chicago Reader

The film surrounds its central pairing with relationships of various complexities that rebuke the clean-cut image of the decade.

Jun 20, 2023

Full Review

Heather Hogan

Autostraddle

It was the tenderness of Desert Hearts that got me, the hope, and the idea that a woman didn't need to have it all nailed down by the time she hit 30, that a woman could give in to what she wanted and just figure it out as she went along

Oct 30, 2020

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Nigel Andrews

Financial Times

The nearly-all-female cast is excellent, the sense of place is strong.

May 13, 2020

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

Produced on a tiny budget, it is sustained by strong performances and a powerful chemistry between the actresses, and it is the rare same-sex love story of the era that embraces the possibility of a happy ending.

Mar 4, 2023

Full Review

Sarah Schulman

Gay Community News (Boston)

It's a corny love story with very little tension.

Aug 11, 2022

Full Review

Mattie Lucas

From the Front Row

In Deitch's steady hands, the film avoids male gaze tropes to create something uncommonly tender and real, a tale of awakening and self discovery that is nearly impossible to shake.

Jun 16, 2022

Full Review

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Stephen C

Success in 1 hour and 36 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $2,500,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/04/25

Full Review

Sarah G

Really wanted to like this one, but boy did it ever drag.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/16/25

Full Review

Audience Member

Stumbled across this movie when I was fifteen, fell deeply in love with it and craved a romance depicted in it. Years and Years later; still in deep love with it.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/27/24

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Daniele R

One of my favorite movies of all time.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/15/24

Full Review

Debra B

Loved it. Haven't seen this movie since the 80s and it really holds up.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/29/23

Full Review

PridePosterStudios

Let’s clear something up: calling Desert Hearts the lesbian Brokeback Mountain is an INSULT to this beautiful film. Thank you.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/26/24

Full Review

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Donna Deitch

Director

Helen Shaver

Vivian Bell

Patricia Charbonneau

Cay Rivvers

Audra Lindley

Frances Parker

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Synopsis

A New York professor (Helen Shaver) divorces her husband and has an affair with another woman (Patricia Charbonneau) in 1959 Reno.

Director: Donna Deitch
Producer: Donna Deitch
Screenwriter: Natalie Cooper
Production Co: The Samuel Goldwyn Company
Rating: R
Genre: Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 16, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $2.5M
Runtime: 1h 36m

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