Professor Vivian Bell, who is going to get a divorce, finds herself increasingly drawn to Cay Rivers, an open and self-assured lesbian. With the impending finalization of Vivian's divorce, the two must sort out the future of their relationship.
Despite many shortcomings--narrow focus, stiff dialogue, and lack of humor--it's worth seeing for historical reasons: this movie herladed a new wave of American gay and lesbian independent films.
Desert Hearts wasn't the first, but it's certainly one of the most significant and an important forebearer to Todd Haynes and Phyllis Nagy's sublime Carol.