Nobody's Business (film)

Nobody's Business is a 1986 American documentary film directed by Jonathan Buchsbaum. The film is a personal and experimental exploration of Buchsbaum's relationships with his immediate family, particularly his parents, Miriam and Al, and his brother, Paul.

The film eschews traditional documentary techniques, instead focusing on intimate and often confrontational conversations within the Buchsbaum family. These discussions delve into topics such as family history, personal beliefs, and the nature of their relationships. Buchsbaum uses a cinéma vérité style, allowing the camera to capture raw and unfiltered moments of interaction. The film's structure is loosely chronological, but primarily emphasizes the emotional dynamics within the family unit.

A central theme of Nobody's Business is the challenge of documenting and understanding one's own family. The film grapples with issues of privacy, consent, and the ethical considerations of exposing personal relationships on screen. Buchsbaum's approach is deliberately self-reflexive, acknowledging his own role in shaping the narrative and the impact of the filmmaking process on his family.

The film received critical attention for its honesty, intimacy, and unconventional approach to documentary filmmaking. While some viewers found the film insightful and relatable, others criticized its lack of clear narrative structure and its potential to be exploitative of the family's personal lives. It has been noted for its influence on subsequent personal documentaries and for raising important questions about the ethics of documentary filmmaking.