'Desert Hearts' Oral History: Director and Cast Reflect on the 1986 Lesbian Classic's Legacy
By
Elaina Patton
Summary
An oral history of the 1986 lesbian romance film 'Desert Hearts,' featuring director Donna Deitch and stars Patricia Charbonneau and Helen Shaver reflecting on the making of the groundbreaking independent film. Despite low expectations, the movie became a commercial hit and enduring queer classic that remains culturally relevant nearly four decades later. The article revisits the film's production, its impact on LGBTQ+ representation in cinema, and its legacy in celebration of Pride Month and a Frameline San Francisco presentation.
Source
IndieWire'Desert Hearts' Oral History: Director and Cast Reflect on the 1986 Lesbian Classic's Legacyindiewire.comKey quotes
· 3 pulledWith perhaps the exception of its singularly focused director, Donna Deitch, even the people behind the windswept lesbian romance 'Desert Hearts' didn't imagine it would be the topic of histories and critical essays four decades after its release.
Deitch's first feature, loosely based on Jane Rule's 'Desert of the Heart,' defied expectations to become a commercial hit and instant queer classic — one still very much alive in the cultural zeitgeist.
In celebration of Pride Month and a forthcoming presentation at Frameline in San Francisco, we're revisiting the film's enduring legacy.
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