Most of the time, when weird, arcane laws are created, it’s done to disenfranchise an already vulnerable population. A notable exception, however, were the progressive Nevada divorce laws of the 20th century. Due to the state’s generous list of allowable grounds for the dissolution of a marriage, and a relatively short (six week) period in which a person had to live there to establish residency, an entire industry sprang up in Reno, NV to support the women coming west to seek their freedom. I love seeing the Reno divorce portrayed onscreen because it’s usually an opportunity to showcase a group of fantastic actresses who are so much more than accessories to their male costars. Throughout the month of July I’ll be highlighting some of my favorites, beginning with this week’s groundbreaking Desert Hearts (Disc/Download).
There are three things I love about the Reno divorce, and this movie has them all:
- A salty boardinghouse owner
- Desert vistas
- Women looking extremely comfortable in jeans
Seriously, it’s just so great to watch someone shake off a bad marriage, put on a pair of pants, and get back on the horse- literally! In this case, our main divorcée Vivian (Helen Shaver) finds herself attracted to free-spirited local Cay (the very sexy Patricia Charbonneau), and it’s a relationship that’s explored with tenderness and depth not often seen in movies of this era. Desert Hearts definitely has a Dirty Dancing “1950s in the 1980s” feel, however, the Patsy Cline tracks bring us back to the correct era. Although the movie is centered on Vivian’s growth, I find Cay to be the more interesting character because she doesn’t make apologies for who she is. She proudly claims her sexuality, in an era when not many women were brave enough to do so. Desert Hearts isn’t an “issue” movie, and it doesn’t pit these characters against society. It’s a lovely, intimate film about people and relationships, and how we define freedom.
One thing to keep in mind about these Reno boarding houses is that the liquor flows freely. It was tough to pick a spirit this week, but in the end I had to go with tequila. I can imagine coming in after a hot day of horseback riding to a cold cocktail and a Johnny Cash record. While watching Desert Hearts, I recommend drinking a Desert Bloom cocktail
Desert Bloom
2 oz Silver Tequila
2 oz Pomegranate Juice
3/4 oz Cointreau
3/4 oz Lime Juice
1/2 oz Simple Syrup
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake until chilled, then strain into a tumbler filled with fresh ice. Garnish with a succulent.
If you’re looking for more stories of Reno divorces and strong, outspoken women, then definitely keep an eye on Cinema Sips this month, and pick up a copy of the new novel by Maureen Lee Lenker, It Happened One Fight, available 7/11! I love this romance set in the Golden Age of Hollywood for a lot of reasons, but especially for the way it uses those loosy-goosy Nevada laws to solve a problem that could have only been created by the movies. Cheers, and happy reading!
Cinema Sips 