

Ancient Korea, July 4, 1762. The Crown Prince Hyojang, posthumously named Sado, son of King Yeongjo of Joseon, is accused of treason. Thus, the king asks him to commit suicide, but his closest vassals prevent it, so the king orders the prince to get inside a wooden rice chest, where he suffers deprivation of food and water.
Acting
Yoo Ah-in's descent from defiance to delirium in confined space.
Direction
Lee Joon-ik stages filicide like a pressure cooker with no release valve.
Production
The actual rice chest: historical prop, psychological torture device.

Director
Lee Joon-ik
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The rice chest execution was chosen precisely because it left no visible wounds—crucial for preserving the Crown Prince's honor and his son's legitimacy to rule.
The real Sado was left in the chest for eight days in sweltering July heat; the film shot in winter, requiring Yoo Ah-in to act hypothermic while actually freezing.