Desert Hearts Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Desert Hearts Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov November 19, 2017

Donna Deitch's "Desert Hearts" (1985) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. The supplemental features on the disc include an original trailer for the film; audio commentary with director Donna Deitch; new program featuring actors Patricia Charbonneau and Helen Shaver; new filmed conversation with director Donna Deitch, cinematographer Robert Elswit and production designer Jeannine Oppewall; and more. The release also arrives with an illustrated leaflet featuring author B. Ruby Rich's essay "The Thrill of it All" and technical credits. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

The visitor

There is an old saying that goes like this: Sometimes getting lost is the best way to find yourself. There are a couple of other popular variations of it, but the basic idea behind it is that if at some point in your life you cut ties with everything that defines you, temporarily or permanently, a new person will emerge and this person will be the true you. It makes perfect sense, really, because very few of us actually have personalities that we are not required to alter. Especially in the wired world that we live in today, where everything that we say or write seems to be permanently stored somewhere, we are the ‘genuine’ individuals that we are told to be. It is the new reality -- in one way or another all of us are wearing masks that make us acceptable in the eyes of the people that ultimately shape up our lives.

Reno, Nevada, the late 1950s. At the train station Professor Vivian Bell (Helen Shaver) is greeted by Frances Parker (Audra Lindley) and then taken to her guest ranch. Vivian, who lives in New York, has come here to finalize all of the paperwork that is required to legally end her marriage to a man that she no longer loves. It shouldn’t be a complicated business, but it will take some time to do it right. On the way to the ranch the visitor has a quick encounter with Cay Rivvers (Patricia Charbonneau), Frances’ stepdaughter, who is something of a rebel and one hell of a driver. (Her introduction is fabulous, truly ‘classic’ material, but I’d rather not spoil it for you). Cay also prefers seeing other women and is very outspoken about her right to live her life as she wishes, so when later on she meets Vivian in the ranch her directness creates a bit of static in the air. But as time passes by Vivian finds herself attracted to Cay, and when she eventually takes her out on a date the two kiss. The date instantly collapses Vivian’s brittle friendship with Frances and she is promptly asked to leave the ranch, but it initiates a powerful awakening that forces her to reevaluate her entire life.

Most old reviews frame Donna Deitch’s Desert Hearts as a queer romantic drama, but my take on it is a bit different. It is true that the romantic relationship between Vivian and Cay is a major element of its story, but there is a bigger message that emerges from the film about the courage that is needed to drop the mask that Vivian has accepted to wear while building her academic career and living her life the 'right' way. Her entire character transformation targets the 'safe' image of a very intelligent but passive woman that reacts in ways that essentially shield her adopted identity, so when Cay begins flirting with her she also disables her protective instincts and leaves her lost in a place that slowly starts to chip away from the false identity. In other words, the romantic relationship only triggers a much bigger process that the film is concerned with.

The visual style seeks and blends the authentic serenity that is often present in Wim Wenders’ work with the casual, at times seemingly accidental elegance of Kelly Reichardt’s films. Indeed, there does not appear to be a calculated effort to capture the natural beauty of rural Nevada, but there are plenty of striking sequences where it becomes virtually impossible not to admire it. I also wish to specifically mention the spectacular range of lush primary colors and nuances that make many wider panoramic shots look like great portraits.

According to various reputable sources the entire film was shot with a tiny budget of approximately $350,000, which was secured through parties outside of the big studio system. The production work ended in 1984, but it took a couple of years to finalize and release the film.

Desert Hearts Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Donna Deitch's Desert Hearts arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion.

The following text appears inside the leaflet provided with this Blu-ray release:

"This new digital transfer was created in 4K resolution on a DFT Scanity film scanner from the 35mm original camera negative. The 2K restoration was undertaken at Roundabout Entertainment in Burbank, California, by the Criterion Collection and UCLA Film & Television Archive, in conjunction with the Outfest UCLA Legacy Project and the Sundance Institute, with additional restoration performed at Criterion Post in New York. The original monaural soundtrack was remastered from the 35mm magnetic DME (dialogue, music, and effects) tracks. Clicks, thumps, hiss, and hum were manually removed using Pro Tools HD and iZotope RX.

Transfer supervisor: Robert Elswit.
Colorist: Gregg Garvin/Roundabout Entertainment."

Rather predictably after the recent restoration the entire film looks exceptionally healthy and vibrant, boasting an exceptional range of beautiful primaries and excellent nuances. This makes the already striking cinematography look even more impressive, and on a larger screen some of the outdoor visuals truly look quite magnificent. Depth and clarity remain very pleasing throughout the entire film, but I must mention that because of location and stylistic choices some minor density fluctuations can be observed. Typically the most obvious ones are during darker footage, but even there it is quite easy to tell that they have organic nature and are part of the original cinematography. My only very minor concern is the presence of some stronger than usual blacks that seem to produce light crush, that the more visually subdued footage is intended to have this exact appearance. There are absolutely no traces of problematic degraining or sharpening adjustments. Image stability is excellent. Lastly, there are no distracting large debris, cuts, damage marks, warps, or torn frames to report. My score if 4.75/5.00. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Desert Hearts Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 1.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

Desert Hearts might have been made with a tiny budget, but it has a pretty impressive soundtrack with great classic tracks that are crucial for its tone and ambience. Other than that the soundtrack incorporates a wide range of organic sounds and noises, so balance and separation are very important. Fortunately, the lossless track serves the film really well. All of its basic characteristics are solid and there isn't even a whiff of age-related anomalies. Fantastic.

Desert Hearts Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Trailer - original trailer for Desert Hearts. In English, not subtitled. (3 min, 1080p).

• Donna Deitch and Lane Lynch - in this new filmed conversation, director Donna Deitch and actor Jane Lynch (Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, TV's Boston Legal) discuss the novel by Jane Rule that inspired Desert Hearts, the film's production history, its message and the nature of the evolving relationship between Vivian and Cay, etc. Jane Lynch also talks about the enormous impact the film had on her personal life and how she actually identified with Patricia Charbonneau's character. The conversation was filmed exclusively for Criterion in Los Angeles in August 2017. In English, not subtitled. (19 min, 1080p).

• Women in Love - in this new program, actors Patricia Charbonneau and Helen Shaver discuss their involvement with Desert Hearts and interactions with director Donna Deitch, and explain how the film impacted their careers and lives. The program was created exclusively for Criterion in New York in 2017. In English, not subtitled. (27 min, 1080p).

• Remembering Reno - in this new filmed conversation, director Donna Deitch, cinematographer Robert Elswit (Boogie Nights, There Will Be Blood), and production designer Jeannine Oppewall (L.A. Confidential, Catch Me If You Can) discuss the visual style of Desert Hearts and the on-location shooting that was done in Reno, Nevada. The conversation was filmed exclusively for Criterion in Los Angeles in August 2017. In English, not subtitled. (20 min, 1080p).

• Fiction and Other Truths: A Film About Jane Rule - presented here are two excerpts from Lynne Fernie and Aerlyn Weissman's documentary Fiction and Other Truths: A Film About Lane Rule in which writer Jane Rule addresses her famous novel Desert of the Heart (1964) and the message that it carries. Also included are clips from archival interviews with dierctor Donna Deitch, architect Abraham Rogatnick, and Rick Bebout (Body Politic Collective Member), amongst others. In English, not subtitled.
  
  1. Excerpt One (7 min, 1080i).
  2. Excerpt Two (3 min, 1080i).

• Commentary - in this archival audio commentary, director Donna Deitch discusses in great detail the difficult production history of Desert Hearts and her work with different cast members during the shooting process. There are also numerous observations about Jane Rule's novel, the specific on-location shooting in the desert, as well as the stylistic appearance of the film. The commentary was recorded in 2007.
  
  1. Creating the world of Desert Hearts
  2. Filming in the casino/Casting
  3. The novel/Gwen Welles
  4. Costumes
  5. Making a classic love story
  6. Rehearsal/Soundtrack
  7. Shooting in thirty-one days
  8. Financing/Donna's cameo
  9. Jeffrey Tambor
  10. Filming the dancing scenes
  11. Natalie Cooper
  12. Filming locations
  13. Filming the sex scenes
  14. Magic-hour scenes
  15. Audra Lindley
  16. Selling the film

• Leaflet - an illustrated leaflet featuring author B. Ruby Rich's essay "The Thrill of it All" and technical credits.

Desert Hearts Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The mainstream take on Donna Deitch's directorial debut has been that it is a moving romantic drama about two women that fall in love amidst the sand dunes and rocks of Reno. However, I see it as an even bigger film about the false identities many of us adopt and become comfortable with in order to become acceptable in the eyes of the people that have the power to shape up our lives. It is a fearless film that was truly ahead of its time. Criterion's Blu-ray release is sourced from a sparkling new 4K restoration that has given the film a new life. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.