quality. Nafees Ahmed of High On Films called the film 'a Shakespearean tragedy' and wrote, "It's a well written and directed historical drama that weaves the emotional nuances of the king and two clowns into the layered drama about love, jealousy, madness and compassion." International release Taiwan: May 7, 2006 Singapore: June 22, 2006 Canada: September 7, 2006 (Vancouver/Toronto Film Festival) Japan: October 21, 2006 (Tokyo Film Festival) / December 9, 2006 (theatrical release) Shanghai: October 28, 2006 United Kingdom: October 29, 2006 (London Film Festival) South Africa: November 14, 2006 (Cape Town Film Festival) New Zealand: December 1, 2006 (Film Festival) United States: January 3, 2007 (Los Angeles) Italy: March 30, 2007 (Florence Film Festival) France: April 1, 2007 (Deauville Film Festival) / 23 January 2008 (theatrical release) Awards and nominations 2006 Baeksang Arts Awards Grand Prize for Film Best New Actor - Lee Joon-gi Nomination - Best Film Nomination - Best Director - Lee Joon-ik Nomination - Best Actor - Jung Jin-young Nomination - Best Screenplay - Choi Seok-hwan 2006 Chunsa Film Art Awards Best Actor - Kam Woo-sung Best Supporting Actor - Jang Hang-sun 2006 Grand Bell Awards Best Film Best Director - Lee Joon-ik Best Actor - Kam Woo-sung Best Supporting Actor - Yoo Hae-jin Best New Actor - Lee Joon-gi Best Screenplay - Choi Seok-hwan Best Cinematography - Ji Kil-woong Nomination - Best Supporting Actress - Kang Sung-yeon Nomination - Best Editing - Kim Jae-bum, Kim Sang-bum Nomination - Best Lighting - Han Gi-eop Nomination - Best Art Direction - Kang Seung-yong Nomination - Best Costume Design - Shim Hyun-sub Nomination - Best Music - Lee Byung-woo Nomination - Best Sound - Kim Tan-young, Choi Tae-young 2006 Blue Dragon Film Awards Best Music - Lee Byung-woo Nomination - Best Film Nomination - Best Director - Lee Joon-ik Nomination - Best Actor - Kam Woo-sung Nomination - Best Supporting Actor - Yoo Hae-jin Nomination - Best Supporting Actress - Kang Sung-yeon Nomination - Best New Actor - Lee Joon-gi Nomination - Best Lighting - Han Gi-eop Nomination - Best Art Direction - Kang Seung-yong Nomination - Technical Award - Kim Sang-bum, Kim Jae-bum (Editing) 2006 Korean Film Awards Best New Actor - Lee Joon-gi Nomination - Best Film Nomination - Best Director - Lee Joon-ik Nomination - Best Supporting Actress - Kang Sung-yeon Nomination - Best Art Direction - Kang Seung-yong 2007 Deauville Asian Film Festival