Desert Hearts

Desert Hearts is a 1985 American romantic drama film directed by Donna Deitch. 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 and in the United Kingdom on June 6, 1986. It is regarded as the first feature film to "de-sensationalize lesbianism" by presenting a positive portrayal of a lesbian romance.