Nothing in Common (1986) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Nothing in Common is set in Chicago, which serves as the bustling backdrop for David's life. The city is known for its vibrant economy and cultural scene, and it reflects both the professional pressures David faces at his advertising agency and the personal challenges he encounters at home.

• chicago
• setting
• location
• advertising agency

Nothing in Common takes place in a contemporary setting during the late 20th century. The story captures the complexities of both family and professional life in that era, highlighting modern adult challenges as David balances career ambitions with personal responsibilities.

• time period
• era
• 1980s
• contemporary setting

Nothing in Common explores several core themes centered on family and personal development. The primary themes include Family Duty, which examines the challenges of caregiving and emotional resilience, and Personal Growth, which follows David's evolution from a superficial playboy into a mature adult confronting real responsibilities.

• themes
• family duty
• personal growth
• meaning

The Family Duty theme in Nothing in Common explores David's grappling with the responsibilities thrust upon him by his aging parents. Their need for support forces him to confront the realities of adulthood and question his previous carefree lifestyle, illustrating the emotional challenges of caregiving within a familial context.

• family duty
• caregiving
• parents
• responsibility

David Basner undergoes significant personal growth throughout Nothing in Common, evolving from a characterized by superficiality and immaturity into someone confronting deeper vulnerabilities. His relationships with his aging parents and ex-girlfriend serve as catalysts for introspection, forcing him to reconcile his youthful aspirations with life's harsh realities.

• david basner
• character development
• growth
• transformation

Max Basner is David's aging father, whose struggles with health and loyalty reveal the fragility of family bonds. He embodies the challenges of an older generation facing obsolescence and emotional turmoil, and his relationship with David serves as a poignant reminder of the unspoken tensions that often exist within families.

• max basner
• father
• health
• family relationship

Donna is David's empathetic ex-girlfriend, played by Eva Marie Saint. She provides David with a perspective on maturity and responsibility, representing the voice of reason in his chaotic life. Her re-emergence in David's life rekindles old feelings and sparks his journey of self-discovery.

• donna
• ex-girlfriend
• eva marie saint
• romantic interest

Nothing in Common has a predominantly bittersweet tone, balancing the sadness of a family breakdown and a father's serious health crisis with the hopeful arc of the protagonist's personal growth. The emotional weight is medium, driven by themes of marital failure, infidelity, illness, and caregiving, but it is offset by moments of warmth and a positive character transformation.

• tone
• bittersweet
• emotional
• feel-good

David Basner is a successful advertising executive working at an ad agency in Chicago. His demanding career creates pressures that contrast sharply with the intimate struggles he faces at home when his parents announce their separation after 36 years of marriage.

• advertising executive
• career
• profession
• ad agency