

Desert Hearts
In 1959, Vivian Bell came to Reno, Nevada for a quick divorce. Of all the people she met there, the one who surprised her the most was herself.
While waiting for her divorce papers, a repressed literature professor finds herself unexpectedly attracted by a carefree, spirited young woman named Cay.
TMDB
7.1/10
181 votes
IMDb
Not rated yet
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- Status
- Released
- Budget
- $350K
- Box office
- $2.4M
- Language
- English
- farm
- coming out
- casino
- based on novel or book
- nevada
- reno, nevada
- lesbian relationship
- divorce
- desert
- lgbt
- woman director
- 1950s
Top billed cast










Behind the camera
Where to watch
All optionsAvailability for United States. Provided by JustWatch through the TMDB API.
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Videos
Release dates
United StatesUS
- Theatrical (limited)Chicago International Film Festival1 Oct 1985
- Theatrical7 Mar 1986
United KingdomGB
- Theatrical181 Aug 1986
CanadaCA
- PremiereToronto International Film Festival5 Sept 1985
NetherlandsNL
- Theatrical1218 Dec 1986
- Physical12DVD31 May 2002
SwitzerlandCH
- PremiereLocarno Film Festival12 Aug 1985
Frequently asked questions
Desert Hearts was released on 1 October 1985.
Audience reviews
2- T9/10
talisencrw
7/28/2016
Lately I felt I couldn't consider myself a self-respecting cinephile unless I at the very least sampled more works both by female directors and from the gay/lesbian/related subgenre. Fortunately my university offered in its library collection an assortment I decided to peruse occasionally. Although Deitch's film is a romantic drama featuring lesbians, I still readily enjoyed it. Glad I took a chance on it and decided…
- T8/10
tmdb40011370
11/21/2019
As a lesbian myself, I have to say I was extremely grateful when a friend recommended I watch this film some 12 odd years ago when I was a willowy 14/15 year old realising that my private emotions were geared towards my own sex but I didn't want to tell the world just yet. I must admit to struggling to stay with this slow burner, probably due to my impatient teenage angst. But stay with it I did and I have to say …
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