Dystopia and dysfunction abound in Lymelife, the absorbing and well-acted tale of two unhappy families in 1979 suburbia.

While it mines turf similar to Ang Lee's terrific The Ice Storm (1997) it is saved from excessive familiarity by a strong ensemble cast. Led by a terrific Rory Culkin and noteworthy performances by Jill Hennessy and Timothy Hutton, the story sometimes loses focus. But the writing — by director Derick Martini and his brother Steven — is sharp, funny and sometimes emotionally raw.

Hennessy gives a blistering performance as Brenda, unhappily married to the workaholic and womanizing Mickey (Alec Baldwin). The couple have two sons, and the story centers on the coming of age of Scott, played by Rory Culkin. His older brother, Jimmy (Kieran Culkin), is a soldier about to ship off to the Falklands War.

Scott has a powerful crush on his neighbor, Adrianna (Emma Roberts). Like Scott's parents, Adrianna's mom and dad seem on the brink of divorce. Cynthia Nixon plays the caustic and brittle Melissa; Timothy Hutton is wonderful as a sardonic sad sack felled by Lyme disease.

The film, about a seminal chapter in both families' lives, won the international critics award at the Toronto International Film Festival. It's a family drama that treads on well-worn middle-class territory but is redeemed by the complexity of the characters and the intriguing ambiguity of their actions.