Overview
A journey of self-discovery unfolds in the Nevada desert as two women navigate love and identity amidst societal constraints.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- intimate
- wistful
- sincere
- quiet evening
- romantic movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the tender performances, polished direction, and unusually optimistic treatment of lesbian intimacy, while some found the screenplay conventional and the filmmaking budget-limited.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Vivian and Cay's intimacy is presented tenderly and optimistically, without making lesbianism the source of melodramatic punishment.
Vivian arrives as a married professor seeking divorce and gradually confronts her attraction to Cay and her changing sense of self.
Vivian's insecurity about her feelings toward Cay drives the central emotional conflict and coming-out trajectory.
The developing relationship and love scene are characterized by tenderness, intimacy, and direct emotional attention.
Films like Desert Hearts, and why
Carol
period lesbian romance centered on self-discovery, social constraint, and tender intimacy
The World to Come
quiet queer romance shaped by repression, longing, and emotional awakening
Lianna
lgbtq+ romantic drama combining coming out, identity, and understated emotional realism
Movie Details
- Director
- Donna Deitch
- Release Date
- 1985-10-01
- Runtime
- 91 min
- Rating
- 7.1 / 10 (181)
Cast
- Helen Shaver
- Patricia Charbonneau
- Audra Lindley
- Andra Akers
- Gwen Welles
- Dean Butler
- Katie La Bourdette
- James Staley
- Denise Crosby
- Antony Ponzini
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Desert Hearts about?
- A married professor seeking divorce in 1950s Nevada discovers an unexpected, liberating love with an openly lesbian rancher's daughter.
- What is Desert Hearts like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Desert Hearts as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Desert Hearts violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Desert Hearts.
- What did critics think of Desert Hearts?
- Critics broadly praised the tender performances, polished direction, and unusually optimistic treatment of lesbian intimacy, while some found the screenplay conventional and the filmmaking budget-limited.
- Which films are like Desert Hearts?
- Films with a similar feel include Carol, The World to Come, and Lianna.
- How long is Desert Hearts?
- Desert Hearts runs 91 minutes.
- Where can I watch Desert Hearts?
- In United States, Desert Hearts streams on HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max.
