The long career of Arturo Ripstein is characterised by uncompromising, controversial films centring on moral conflicts. Profundo carmesí is a dark, disturbing film full of black humour, a beautiful photography, excellent acting and impeccable directing. The story is based on facts. Coral Fabre, a young and sensual nurse, brings up two children in Mexico in the late forties. In a magazine she sees a small ad placed by Nicolas Estrella. On the spur of the moment, Coral writes to Estrella, better known as Nico. When they meet, they turn out to be quite different. Coral is not interested in her looks, but Nico is a real peacock. Coral likes Nico straight away, but his first reaction is to run away. Yet the two end up in bed together. In the morning, Nico flees with Coral’s savings. Coral however remains determined to win him over. She takes her children with her, goes to Nico’s house and says she is moving in with him. Nico protests about the children. But nothing can stand in the way of Coral’s love: with pain in her heart, she takes the children to an orphanage that day. Then she investigates Nico’s past and finds out that he was responsible for the death of his wife. Nico is moved by Coral’s intense love for him, but he continues to visit widows and unmarried women, seduce them and rob them of their possessions, eventually with the knowledge of Coral.
