Donna Deitch's 'Desert Hearts' (1985)
Her Head in FilmsMay 21, 202401:57:18

Donna Deitch's 'Desert Hearts' (1985)

In this episode, I explore Donna Deitch's 1985 cult classic, "Desert Hearts." It's about Vivian Bell, who travels to Reno, Nevada in 1959 to get a quickie divorce. While she stays at a ranch for six weeks, she meets the vivacious Cay Rivvers, and the two women fall in love. "Desert Hearts" was one of the first films to represent a lesbian relationship without it ending in tragedy or suicide.



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Original artwork by Dhiyanah Hassan (https://www.bydhiyanah.com/)



Show Notes:




• Listen to my series on debut feature films by women directors: Unrelated (https://herheadinfilms.simplecast.fm/d03fc0a3) , A Brand New Life (https://herheadinfilms.simplecast.fm/f0c3badf) , Losing Ground (https://herheadinfilms.simplecast.fm/985a4706)


• Desert of the Heart by Jane Rule (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desert_of_the_Heart)


• More about Filmstruck (https://www.filmstruck.com/us/)


• Listen to my other episodes on queer love stories: Blue is the Warmest Color (https://herheadinfilms.simplecast.fm/792aff18) , Moonlight (https://herheadinfilms.simplecast.fm/835f578f) , Call Me By Your Name (https://herheadinfilms.simplecast.fm/1b66af7c)


• More information about Kiki (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5278598/)


• The Criterion Collection edition of Desert Hearts (https://www.criterion.com/films/29139-desert-hearts)


• Follow Carolyn Petit on Twitter (https://twitter.com/carolynmichelle)


• Read Carolyn Petit's review of Desert Hearts (http://agameofme.tumblr.com/post/167671220207/desert-hounds)


• Peggy Ornstein's TED talk (https://www.ted.com/talks/peggy_orenstein_what_young_women_believe_about_their_own_sexual_pleasure)