This film has very weak story line, which is bound to bore the audience. So they tried to overcompensate it by putting a lot sexual attentions in it. But that could not do any good for the movie, as they failed to depict those attentions in a classy way.The acting skill of all the characters made a huge dent on the film. As the acting of the main characters was quite clumsy, it was hard to endure it throughout the film. It seemed that they are struggling to act and deliver the apt emotion in the scenes.Not Recommended.

It is 1950s Nevada, and Professor Vivian Bell arrives to get a divorce. She's unsatisfied with her marriage, and feels out of place at the ranch she stays on, she finds herself increasingly drawn to Cay Rivers, an open and self-assured lesbian, and the ranch owner's daughter."Desert Hearts" is notable for being the first film to depict a lesbian relationship where both characters enjoy a satisfactory ending, in contrast to previously released films such as "Personal Best" that focus less on the relationship of the main characters, and where one returns to a relationship with a man.The history of gay and lesbian film themes is interesting in how it shifts over time, and I have to wonder if the representations are in any way accurate. Does this film show the 1950s or simply how the 1980s saw the 1950s? How interesting that until this point, any lesbian romance was doomed. Today (2016) we have lesbian themes on film that are not doomed or successful, but just exist as a matter of fact.

I think this is the best underrated lesbian film I've ever came across and it's still great for over 30 years like! Helen Shaver had such a beautiful voice and by god, she is so stunning! The same for Patricia Charbonneau, she really was sexy and provide such a great role as Cay Rivvers! You really wouldn't know she was pregnant like she hid the bump pretty well! She probably got married pretty young by the looks of her!In the film, I even loved Audra Lindley as Frances Parker who let Vivian stay at her place while she was going through the divorce. I honestly wish they didn't make her character into such a control freak because she doesn't look like the person who would shout at your face!This movie should really have deserved more awards because really, this movie has great tastes in music and of course, 80's love ;)

This movie, Desert hearts, is a love story of hurting hearts and hope growing. It shows both sides of the picture, the love and friendship of others accepting of a person no matter what and the typical hatred for someone being different. There is no violence whatsoever, which is refreshing. And there are no mind games played which is typical in a great deal of alternative lifestyle stories. It shows honest struggle with feelings that have never been known before. The characters selected for their roles were perfect, everyone seems quite natural and real with each other. It appears that Helen Shaver seems quite rigid in her role, but she truly portrays the clash of her proper orderly world to the new sunrise in her life. Just a slow (like a slow dance) but beautiful telling of a tale of two very different women meeting as it makes you want them to allow their hearts to feel the joy. Quiet rooting for them is allowed in this movie!