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 the ranch of Frances Parker (Audra Lindley), 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' adopted ...
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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 the ranch of Frances Parker (Audra Lindley), 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' adopted daughter Cay (Patricia Charbonneau), a casino worker ten years younger than herself. Vivian 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. Paul Brenner, Rovi
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Seller's Description:
Helen Shaver, Patricia Charbonneau. Very good. 1985 Run time: 91. Providing great media since 1972. All used discs are inspected and guaranteed. Digital copy/codes may be expired or not included. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Okay, so it has been a few years since I saw this movie in the theaters! I did recall a lot of the scenes, and especially that crazy one of Patricia Charbonneau's character driving her car at high speed in reverse gear on the Nevada highway to have a moment's greeting and chat with her stepmother (?) Audra Lindley's character! Phew! Helen Shaver gives one of her best performances, and the movie's script is a good balance of passion, anger and discovery. Great job, director Donna Deitch!
As for, "Would you recommend this item to a friend?" there should be a "Maybe" choice as this isn't a movie for everyone. (Some people still become upset over stories with pro-LGBTQ themes!)
Soapberryusa
Mar 18, 2010
Time piece
Great erotic period piece. Sensuous and evoking. You can't go wrong with this movie unless you are square and/or repressed.
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