Description

Release Date: June 16, 1998Run Time: 90 minutesPublisher: Not AvailableThis video, hosted by Barbara Walters, is based on the work of author John Gray. His bestselling book Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus deals with the premise that men, as Martians, and women, as Venusians, have extremely different ways of viewing coupledom. For this video, ABC News placed an ad in newspapers asking for couples looking to work on their marriages. They received thousands of responses, and from those they chose the six couples who appear in this special. Cameras follow the couples in their daily routines, and we also see them in discussion with each other, detailing the problems of their relationships with remarkable frankness. They don’t shy away from discussing chores, intimacy, and the daily grind, and the picture is not always flattering. Next, each of the couples attends a John Gray lecture and workshops. After five more months, each couple is revisited (the entire process takes a total of eight months); all are in healthier, happier relationships.Part of the intrigue of this video is the voyeuristic glimpse into the couples’ lives. But more than that, each couple discusses issues that viewers can relate to. As the audience of the John Gray lecture nods along with his statements, it’s hard not to find yourself thinking, “Exactly!” The video does not delve deeply into the philosophy espoused in Gray’s book; rather, it shows his ideas in action. This video will benefit those looking for an introduction to the Martian-Venusian theories, and it will also serve well as a companion to the book. –Jenny Brown