Desert Hearts

This article is about the film Desert Hearts. For the rock group, see Desert Hearts (band).

Desert Hearts
Theatrical release poster
Directed byDonna Deitch
Screenplay byNatalie Cooper
Based onDesert of the Heart
by Jane Rule
Produced by
  • Donna Deitch
  • Cami Taylor
Starring
CinematographyRobert Elswit
Edited byRobert Estrin
Production
company
Desert Hearts Productions[1]
Distributed byThe Samuel Goldwyn Company[1]
Release dates
Running time
96 minutes[2]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$1.5 million[3]
Box office$2.5 million[4]

Desert Hearts is a 1985 American romantic drama film directed by Donna Deitch.[5] The screenplay, written by Natalie Cooper, is an adaptation of the 1964 lesbian novel Desert of the Heart by Jane Rule. Set in Reno, Nevada in 1959, it tells the story of a university professor awaiting a divorce who finds her true self through a relationship with another, more self-confident woman. The film stars Helen Shaver and Patricia Charbonneau with a supporting performance by Audra Lindley.

Desert Hearts was released theatrically in the United States on March 7, 1986[4] and in the United Kingdom on June 6, 1986.[6] It is regarded as the first feature film to "de-sensationalize lesbianism" by presenting a positive portrayal of a lesbian romance.[7][8]

  1. ^ a b "Desert Hearts". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Janus was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Donna Deitch Filmography". FilmDirectorsSite.com. Archived from the original on January 16, 2016. Retrieved January 15, 2016.
  4. ^ a b "Desert Hearts". Box Office Mojo. 2004. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  5. ^ The Criterion Collection
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference BBFC was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Siskel was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ JD (October 3, 2020). "The All-Time Greatest Films Directed by Women: 35. "Desert Hearts" (Donna Deitch, 1985)". IndieWire. Retrieved May 13, 2023.