Desert Hearts (1985) review

Vivian Bell (Helen Shaver), a professor of literature at Columbia University, flies to good old Reno in order to speed up her divorce (she claims it was a "professional marriage") and stays at a lodge run by Frances (Audra Lindley) - while there, out-and-proud casino worker Cay (Patricia Charbonneau) develops strong romantic feelings for Vivian, which greatly angers Frances.  Since it's set in the late 50's - which was not exactly a time for open-mindedness - the film is relatively cautious when it comes to depicting lesbian relationships, except many scenes fade out too quickly and aren't allowed to properly develop, and the movie itself is missing a dramatic punch, mainly because Viv's main issue - about whether or not she'll admit she isn't strictly heterosexual - is an internal dilemma.  The actresses themselves deserve praise for being willing to play non-straight roles, and as an indie production (and Deitch's feature debut) it has a striking appearance, with dusty and desolate Nevada acting as an appropriate backdrop.  If this took place in the nineties, you can believe there would have been a U-Haul truck used instead of a train.