According to Profundo carmesi's (Deep Crimson) co-producer Jose Maria Morales, "There is a lot of talent in Mexico; you just don't get to see it." For Morales, and an increasing number of critics, Arturo Ripstein is a major talent. The director of 1993's Principio y fin, 1991's La mujer del puerto and 1988's Mentiras piadosas has, says Morales, "great skill as a storyteller, combining the social conditions that affect characters with their inner psychological processes."Based on Leonard Kastle's 1969 murder mystery The Honeymoon Killers, Profundo carmesi is set in 1949 along Mexico's northern frontier. Regina Orozco plays Coral Fabre, a young nurse who divides her time between changing her children's nappies and bullying her patients. After being sacked she decides to answer a lonely-hearts advertisement placed by Nicolas Estrella: "Spanish gentleman seeking loving relationship."

Nicolas, played by Daniel Gimenez Cacho, styles himself after the French idol of the silver screen, Charles Boyer, for whom Coral has a distinct weakness. If not quite a dead ringer for the star of Gaslight, Nicolas has enough svelte charm and bedroom elegance to win Coral over immediately and, though he is less than certain, they quickly end up in bed together.

Coral becomes obsessed with Nicolas, abandoning her children in the nearest orphanage to be with him. Even learning that he murdered his wife cannot spoil her devotion. The couple hit the road in search of wealthy lonely-hearts for Nicolas to seduce. But guilt and jealousy ensure that this is no easy ride. Adam Minns