Jump to the good stuff: The Story | Some Thoughts | The Final Verdict
The Story:
Desert Hearts is a romantic drama set in 1959 about a woman in her thirties discovering her sexuality.
Since the state of Nevada allows hassle free divorces for residents, 35-year-old Vivien Bell (Helen Shaver) moves to Reno to establish residency, which takes six weeks. She rents a room from Frances Parker (Audra Lindley), who is known for helping women looking to leave their husbands.
Upon Vivian’s arrival, she quickly meets Cay (Patricia Charbonneau), a young sculptor who lives in a small house not far from Frances’s ranch. Frances was Cay’s father’s longtime mistress before he passed away, and she sees Cay as a daughter. The two are close, and Frances accepts Cay despite not approving of her lesbian lifestyle.
When Cay and Vivien become close, Vivien begins to question her sexuality and Frances becomes jealous. And with that, the drama unfolds.
Some Thoughts:
Desert Hearts has the visuals and tone right, but the emotion is missing due to a lack of chemistry between Shaver and Charbonneau. It also doesn’t help that Charbonneau’s acting is a bit dull and lifeless. Shaver’s depiction of a woman making a life changing decision would carry the film if it wasn’t missing a romantic spark between her and Charbonneau. It seems odd that director Donna Deitch would allow two ill-suited actors to play the pivotal roles.
The one shining star in this romantic drama comes from Lindley. Frances comes across as a complex woman facing life on her own terms. Her relationship with Cay is full of complicated emotions. There are also times when it feels as if she may be hiding some lesbian desires. Lindley is so good in the role that there were moments when I wished the story would focus on her situation.
The Final Verdict:
Desert Hearts is a lesbian romance that that has everything going for it except the romance. While Shaver’s portrayal of Vivien has all the nuances necessary to make her situation believable, her attraction to Cay feels as if it comes out of nowhere.