With beautifully dusty cinematography by Robert Elswit, Donna Deitch’s DESERT HEARTS is a crucial point in American queer cinema; a film that takes its story about two women falling in love, despite their differences, seriously. It isn’t just the polished nature of the movie, Deitch’s directorial voice in her feature debut is confident and articulate, which conveys a lack of condescension to the material; it’s a full integration of the characters within their environment. The casino floor is dimly lit but it glows when Vivian and Cay are together. When they stand against the Nevada horizon, the mountains carving impressions in the sky, that’s the world they’re learning to share coming to life.

Double Feature with SAVING FACE