John Reid's wife and another shocking erotic film

Carine Adler's shocking new movie is to star Kristin Scott Thomas, better known for her portrayal of aristocratic English roses.

The Brazilian-born director, John Reid's second wife, caused a sensation with her debut work Under The Skin, described as an exploration in 'nymphomania'.

Her latest project is likely to be even more controversial and risks embarrassing her husband, who may challenge Gordon Brown for the Labour leadership.

Called Original Bliss, Ms Adler's film is based on a book by the Left-wing Scottish writer A. L. Kennedy, a prominent campaigner against the Iraq War.

It will be produced by Scott Thomas herself - she bought the rights to the story after becoming fed-up with being typecast as a toff.

The main character, Helen Brindle, is a housewife stuck in an abusive relationship with a violent husband.

The story describes how, seeking an escape from her domestic hell, she forges an unlikely relationship with a pop psychologist but then realises that he has an obsession with striptease clubs and violent, degrading pornography.

The dust jacket of the book describes the story as a 'beautiful and terrifying examination of passion and pornography'.

Ms Adler, 58, revealed her latest project in a magazine interview, in which she also complained of the difficulties faced by female film directors.

'I think it is more difficult if you have either children or a very demanding husband,' she said. 'John's not a demanding husband but a situation that takes your eye off your focus is very tricky.'

The director married Mr Reid in 2002 - four years after the death of his first wife, Cathie.

Ms Adler's son by her first marriage, Hal Vogel, is also a controversial film-maker. He has produced a number of television satires on New Labour including The Trial Of Tony Blair and Confessions Of A Diary Secretary about John Prescott's affair with Tracey Temple.

Original Bliss has long been a pet project for Scott Thomas, 43, who starred in The English Patient and Gosford Park, as she has admitted yearning to play a different kind of role. She said: 'I've worn the pearls, I've kicked the dog but, for the moment, it's not as though I can really go much further with it.'