Costa-Gavras, in his latest film, has distilled such messy subjects as race, class and immigration into something tender and simple, even sexy. When audience members, after a recent London screening, asked about his motivations for the film, Costa-Gavras, who is known for injecting politics into his work, was hardly provocative. He explained that “Eden is West” was loosely based on his own experiences moving from Greece to France after finishing high school, about 50 some odd years ago. He wistfully joked that the main character’s good looks were modeled on his younger self.

As a modern tale of immigration, “Eden is West” lacks a certain rawness and immediacy. But as a story of one man’s odyssey, it is vivid and touching, finessed by someone who understands the journey into the unknown.

The full review of Costa Gavras’ film, “Eden is West,” at INTELLIGENT LIFE<