Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her (1999)

Director:

Rodrigo García

Writer:

Rodrigo García (writer)

Release Date:

4 October 2000 (France)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Their faces only begin to tell the story.

Plot:

An anthology of five loosely connected stories dealing with a variety of very different women in dealing with their own life problems...

Plot Keywords:

Lesbian | Dwarf | Dating | Pregnancy | Loneliness

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy. Another 1 win

Cast

Glenn Close	...	Dr. Elaine Keener (segments "This is Dr. Keener" and "Fantasies about Rebecca")
Cameron Diaz	...	Carol Faber (segment "Love Waits For Kathy")
Calista Flockhart	...	Christine Taylor (segments "Goodnight Lilly, Goodnight Christine" and "This is Dr. Keener")
Kathy Baker	...	Rose (segments "Someone For Rose" and "Fantasies about Rebecca")
Amy Brenneman	...	Detective Kathy Faber (segment "Love Waits For Kathy")
Valeria Golino	...	Lilly (segment "Goodnight Lilly, Goodnight Christine")
Holly Hunter	...	Rebecca Waynon (segment "Fantasies About Rebecca")
Matt Craven	...	Walter (segments "Fantasies About Rebecca" and "Love Waits For Kathy")
Gregory Hines	...	Robert (segment "Fantasies About Rebecca")
Miguel Sandoval	...	Sam (segment "Love Waits For Kathy"
Noah Fleiss	...	Jay (segment "Someone For Rose")
Danny Woodburn	...	Albert (segments "Someone For Rose" and "Love Waits For Kathy")
Penelope Allen	...	Nancy (segment "Fantasies About Rebecca") (as Penny Allen)
Roma Maffia	...	Debbie (segments "Fantasies About Rebecca" and "Love Waits For Kathy")
Mika Boorem	...	June (segments "Love Waits For Kathy" and "Goodnight Lilly, Goodnight Christine")
Irma St. Paule	...	Elaine's Mother (segment "This is Dr. Keener")
Juanita Jennings	...	Nurse (segment "Fantasies About Rebecca")
Laura Leigh Hughes	...	Receptionist (segment "Fantasies About Rebecca")
Erik King	...	Police Officer (segment "Love Waits For Kathy")
Elpidia Carrillo	...	Carmen Alba
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Yolanda Arroyo	...	Angelica
Jacob Avnet	...	Jay's School Friend (segment "Someone For Rose") (uncredited)
Carmel Wynne Smith	...	Bank Teller (uncredited)

Directed by
Rodrigo García

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Rodrigo García		writer

Produced by
Jon Avnet	....	producer
Effie Brown	....	line producer
Lisa Lindstrom	....	producer
Marsha Oglesby	....	producer
Elie Samaha	....	executive producer
Andrew Stevens	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Ed Shearmur		(as Edward Shearmur)

Cinematography by
Emmanuel Lubezki

Film Editing by
Amy E. Duddleston

Casting by
Marnie Waxman

Production Design by
Jerry Fleming

Set Decoration by
Betty Berberian

Costume Design by
George L. Little

Makeup Department
David Abbott	....	makeup artist
Carrie Angland	....	makeup department head
Martial Corneville	....	hair stylist: Ms. Close
Medusah	....	hair department head
Jaren Millard	....	makeup artist
Anne Morgan	....	hair stylist: Ms. Diaz (as Ann Morgan)
Tamie Smith	....	makeup artist
Gucci Westman	....	makeup artist: Ms. Diaz

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Shane Clark	....	second assistant director
Van Hayden	....	first assistant director
Kyle LeMire	....	second second assistant director
Joy Roberts	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Denise Anderson	....	assistant property master
Mark Anderson	....	property master
William DeBiasio	....	lead man
Lance DeSpain	....	lead scenic
Paul Etheredge	....	swing gang (as Paul Etheredge-Ouzts)
Susana Inés Fattorini	....	assistant art director
Joel Miller	....	set dresser
Lisa Robinson	....	on-set dresser
Christopher Schultz	....	on-set dresser (as Christopher A. Schultz)
David Slater	....	construction coordinator
Patrick Tonioli	....	scenic artist (as Patrick Starr Tonioli)
Marisa Vargo	....	scenic artist
Brad Zuckerman	....	construction foreman

Sound Department
Joe Barnett	....	sound re-recording mixer
Dylan Bond	....	boom operator
Jed M. Dodge	....	adr supervisor
Matt Dubin	....	digital transfer engineer
Alan Freedman	....	adr mixer
Jonathan Fuh	....	boom operator
Cormac Funge	....	supervising sound editor
José Antonio García	....	production sound mixer
Robert Getty	....	assistant sound editor
Michael Hertlein	....	dialogue editor
Chato Hill	....	assistant sound editor
C.W. Jones	....	foley mixer
Craig Jurkiewicz	....	sound editor
Ossama Khuluki	....	foley artist
Sarah Smith	....	sound editor
William Smith	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Bill Smith)
Walter Spencer	....	dialogue editor
Johanna Turner	....	digital transfer engineer
James Wright	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby

Visual Effects by
Christopher Dusendschon	....	in-show optical process and effects compositor: THDX (uncredited)
Christopher Dusendschon	....	optical element Hazeltine colorist: THDX (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Ivan Allen	....	rigging assistant lighting technician
Pasquale Attanasio	....	grip
Mitchell Bergman	....	set electric technician
Bill Brummond	....	Steadicam operator
Colin J. Campbell	....	chief lighting technician (as Colin Campbell)
Russ I. Conklin	....	rigging lighting technician
C.E. Courtney	....	assistant lighting technician
Jeffrey Goodman	....	camera loader
Erik Hecomovich	....	best boy
Erik Hecomovich	....	grip
Robert Jason	....	additional chief lighting technician
Lee Jimenez	....	dolly grip
Dana Kroeger	....	second assistant camera
Jay Levy	....	additional first assistant camera
Mark Lipson	....	still photographer
Christopher M. Morlock	....	electrician
Greg Patterson	....	grip
Larry Sweet	....	key grip
Christopher Warren	....	electrician
Harry Zimmerman	....	first assistant camera

Casting Department
Bill Dance	....	extras casting
Gary Davies	....	extras casting assistant
Alyssa Embree	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Leslie Fill	....	costumer
Dee Dee Hopkins	....	costumer
Jennifer K. Moore	....	costume supervisor
Carlane Passman	....	assistant costume designer (as Carlane Passman Little)

Editorial Department
Phillip J. Bartell	....	assistant editor
George Koran	....	telecine colorist
Bob McMillian	....	color timer (as Bob McMillan)
Michael Nouryeh	....	assistant editor
Timothy E. Wilson	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Francis Buckley	....	music recordist
Sandy DeCrescent	....	orchestra contractor
George Doering	....	musician
Daryl B. Kell	....	supervising music editor

Transportation Department
Kip Johnson	....	transportation captain
Terry Mack	....	transportation coordinator
Sandra Ninham	....	crew driver

Other crew
Val Burnley	....	location manager
Alex Cho	....	set intern
Nicole Colombie	....	assistant coordinator
G. Shawn Davis	....	production coordinator
Lori Dorn	....	assistant: Glenn Close
Kerim Ekonomi	....	set production assistant
Jessica Koosed Etting	....	assistant: Rodrigo Garcia (as Jessica Koosed)
Kristen Figeroid	....	assistant: Mr. Stevens
Gonzalo Garcia	....	title designer
Huck Hackstedt	....	assistant to producer
Monica L. Kocher	....	assistant production accountant
Swanna MacNair	....	assistant: Lisa Lindstrom
Jennifer Maisch	....	post-production accountant
Tori Meek	....	production accountant
Eric Melstad	....	office production assistant
Elías Nahmías	....	set production assistant
Bryan Palliccia	....	production assistant
Jonathan Parker	....	office production assistant
Elaine Patarini	....	assistant location manager
Mark Patterson	....	set production assistant
Katrina Phillips	....	office production assistant
Patrick G. Ralston	....	additional assistant lighting technician (as Pat Ralston)
Jonna Smith	....	assistant: Jon Avnet
Jayne-Ann Tenggren	....	script supervisor
Matthew Thomas	....	office production assistant
Matthew A. Thomas	....	production assistant
Rhonda Wheelan	....	craft service
Joan Scheckel	....	workshop development (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Franchise Pictures (presents)
• Avnet/Kerner Productions
• LTZ II Inc.

Distributors

• GAGA (2001) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Independent Films (2000) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• MGM Distribution (2000) (USA) (theatrical) (as MGM Distribution Co.)
• Manga Films (2002) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Primer Plano Film Group (2001) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Sagittaire Films (2000) (France) (theatrical)
• Sherlock Media S.L. (2000) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Star Movie Amusements (200?) (Paraguay) (theatrical)
• United Artists (2000) (USA) (theatrical)
• United King Films (2000) (Israel) (theatrical)
• ottfilm GmbH (2003) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (200?) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2001) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2001) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Eagle Films (2000) (non-USA) (all media) (Middle East)
• Europa Filmes (Brazil) (DVD)
• Europa Filmes (Brazil) (VHS)
• Planet Media Home Entertainment (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
• Showtime Networks (2001) (USA) (TV)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2001) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Bill Dance Casting  extras casting
• Digital Sound & Picture  post-production sound
• Film Finances  completion guarantor
• Fujifilm  film stock
• Help Me Rhonda Craft Service  craft service
• IVC  digital mastering
• Magic Film and Video Works  negative cutting
• Title House  titles and opticals

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic elements, sexual content and language

Runtime:

109 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | Dolby SR

Certification:

Finland:K-11 | Netherlands:12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | France:U | Germany:12 | Norway:7 | South Korea:18 | Spain:13 | UK:12 | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Lacy Street Production Center - 2630 Lacy Street, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Franchise Pictures

Trivia:

A Braille book that Carol Faber reads is "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel García Márquez who happens to be the father of Rodrigo García, this film's director.

Quotes:

Lilly:Look, the neighbors bought birds.
Christine Taylor:Canaries.
Lilly:How can you tell?
Christine Taylor:I can see them. Two males, probably.
Lilly:How do you know?
Christine Taylor:Only the males sing.

That's what it's all about

The greatest virtue of this movie resides in the close look the camera focuses on stories and characters. Slowly but relentlessly, humorous and cruel at the same time, it allows the time needed for seven wonderful actresses to reveal their most intimate and contradictory feelings, without relying exclusively on the dialogue. Thus, the stories really turn to be things you can tell about these women by just looking (attentively) at them.

And isn't watching carefully what a movie is about?

The result of this very "objective" look is the healthy absence of a moral, a trap writers tend to fall into when dealing with lesbian love, mortal diseases, abortion, loneliness, egotism, discrimination, etc.

It's been labeled by some as a "feminist" film, another often mistaken category into which films with women protagonists fall into. I believe it's far from being such. It should appeal to both sensitive and sensible men and women.