Love is Strange John Lithgow, Alfred Molina, Marisa Tomei. Directed by Ira Sachs. Rated R. Opens Friday.

Even with the legalization of same-sex marriage sweeping through various states, being gay in America still has plenty of potential negative consequences, and the fallout from those consequences is the subject of Ira Sachs’ often heartbreaking drama Love Is Strange. In New York City, one of the most progressive places in the U.S., longtime partners George (Alfred Molina) and Ben (John Lithgow) finally make their union legal, at which point George promptly loses his job teaching music at a Catholic school. Without a steady income, the couple are forced to sell their apartment, and Ben goes to stay with his nephew’s family, while George crashes on their former neighbors’ couch.

Although the predicament is the by-product of a political decision, Sachs isn’t making a political statement. Instead, he focuses on the stress that comes from financial uncertainty and the burden of relying on friends and family for housing. Both George and Ben end up in uncomfortable situations in their temporary homes, and some of the awkward moments are painful to watch (one particular scene between Ben and his niece, played by Marisa Tomei, is as cringe-inducing as anything on The Office). Molina and Lithgow can both be over-the-top performers, but they are understated and heartfelt here, aided by a strong supporting cast and a lovely soundtrack featuring Chopin piano pieces. Sachs’ film is both gentle and sad, and while it can sometimes seem a little too downbeat, it ends on a note of hope as quiet and simple as the melancholy that preceded it.