Writer/director Rodrigo Garcia's feature film debut "Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her" might have a jarring, if too long, title, but the son of Gabriel Garcia Marquez presents a passionate work of cinematic fiction. The film presents several short stories; snapshots of women at a crossroads. One story is of a doctor who has lost sight of spiritual meaning in her life, and has elicited the assistance of a tarot card reader to help her find her way. This card reader may assist people with getting through the future with clarity, but she has one foot in the past as she watches her girlfriend succumb to a debilitating disease.Each story intersects and overlaps the others in unique and interesting ways. The all-star cast of female talent bring to their deliberately under drawn characters some of their strongest performances, especially Calista Flockhart (at the time, fresh from "Ally McBeal") who provides her psychic character with fairy-like innocence, Kathy Baker who brings good-natured humorous curiosity to a role that could have quickly become a sociopath stalker, and Holly Hunter in an understated performance as a bank owner who contemplates the ramifications of motherhood on her life.

A few comments: the angoras film style of Garcia dwells on the face and lets the scene run. The tracking shot of Holly Hunter simply walking down the street as she breaks down is worthy of an Oscar. Cameron Diaz a lightweight? Her coda to this film is wrenching; get our your handkerchief. Garcia, wow. Can't wait for his next work. One can see why an actor would want to work with this director as he allows the moment to expand and the actor is given all this room. He allows everyone out onto the limb and we see if they've got it. They do. This film is mesmerizing and stylish and moving. Actors must be lining up to work with this guy. Actually they are, if the cast of Nine Lives is any indication. A wonderful touching writer too. Who is that guy?

Things You Can Tell Just By Looking At Her spins a beautiful and compelling tale of interwoven stories about six different and extraordinary women who have reach an emotional crossroads and each must weigh the choices so to embrace their futures.The simplicity of the tale is engaging. The way the characters read each other, either by tarot cards, an encounter with a bag person, or their interpretation of a situation, showing the two sides of the coin - the 'looker' and the 'lookee' Each story segment brings its own magic. Holly Hunter exceeds herself (those who have seen it will know when) and personal Calista Flockhart and Valeria Golino create and portray the most meaningful and moving section.This is a must watch, writer-director Garcia brings this no frills story to life with steady pacing and unpredictable turns. The cast is perfectly chosen and bring their own elements to make the characters that little bit more believable.

Opening scene of the film sets you up to this title perfectly. A female detective looks at a dead woman with a wondering eyes.cut to title `Things you can tell just by looking at her' so much is said.yet so much is left for you to explore.indeed.as the story unfolds the title makes more sense to you.There are 5 stories. A variety of women facing different issues in their lives. You only get to see a portion of it.but you can tell by just looking at her.the rest of her story... You can feel her sorrow, her misery, her dilemma, her battling, her triumph, her set back her strengths & her weaknesses.there are just too much you ca get out of it.if you look hard enough. It's a very powerful piece of work. Wonder did the director realize it? It gives a lot of space for people to look at others life & at the same time pause to take a closer look at themselves. Interestingly, there is always a character within each story that tells the protagonist about themselves.things that they oversee.perhaps.however, you may realize such analysis of oneself is often obvious.but you need a 3rd party to vocalize it. A highly recommended piece of film. A clever use of 5 large pieces of montage (5 loose story) that binds your emotions together.