The film was directed by Feng Xiaogang and stars Zhang Ziyi, Ge You, Daniel Wu and Zhou Xun.

It is a loose adaptation of William Shakespeare's tragedy Hamlet[1] set in the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period in 10th century China.

Returning to court, Wu Luan is met by Empress Wan and her lady-in-waiting Qing Nu who is officially still engaged to him.

The tension in the Imperial Court is high, and when a palace official greets Empress Wan as 'Empress Dowager', he and his family are sentenced to a violent death.

While practicing, the Imperial Guard suddenly produce sharpened swords and attempt to kill Wu Luan and make it look like an accident.

Wu Luan enquires at an apothecary, who reveals that the poison used for the murder is made from Arsenic trioxide and black scorpions.

Instead, as an accomplished singer and dancer, Wu Luan stages a masked mime play that exposes his uncle as his father's murderer.

The Empress comments that it would be bad luck to organise such an auspicious occasion on their 100th day of knowing each other, but the Emperor claims he does not surrender to superstitions.

During the dance, Qing Nu falls down dead on stage, and Wu Luan reveals himself to comfort her in her dying moments.

[3] Wally Hammond of Time Out gave the film 4/5 stars but found it "too drawn-out, lacking the originality and sprightliness those such as Zhang Yimou and Ang Lee brought to similar fare.

It received the People's Choice Award at the 4th World Film Festival of Bangkok, where it was screened two weeks before its wide release in Thailand.