In 2026, the BUDA arts centre will celebrate its 20th anniversary, and we’ll be marking the occasion throughout the year, on the 20th of every month. In October, we’ll be presenting a film and concert featuring Tsubasa Hori & Andrew Claes. A mind-blowing cinematic journey exploring fatherhood, failure and the will to fight, accompanied by live music.

About the film

In 2023, Micha Volders travelled to Thailand, where he shot *SŏN* in a DIY, guerrilla-style approach; a short film that explores a father-son relationship against the backdrop of Muay Thai, Thailand’s national martial art. He returns a second time with his father, this time to meet local musicians, resulting in valuable sound recordings which he incorporates into SŏN.

SŏN is a poetic portrait of a former Thai boxer, played by the Bangkok-born actor Wachara Kanha, who is trying to rediscover his life. A story about legacy and loss. About getting lost and searching. About carrying on doing what you’ve always done, even if the outcome is nothing.

Volders took on everything himself: camera, editing, music and sound. Inspired by the entire process, he created music in parallel that became an 81-minute double album – a lush sonic universe full of contrasts: minimalist structures, meandering soundscapes and maximal outbursts, performed by a screeching, gasping and otherworldly orchestra that seems on the verge of falling apart at any moment, yet exudes a fragile and elusive beauty. The soundtrack was released as a 2LP Limited Edition via Mutropia.

About the music and live performance

In this performance, the film is no longer confined to the screen. The SŏN soundtrack is brought to life live by a trio comprising Tsubasa Hori (KODO), Andrew Claes (STUFF.) and Micha Volders himself. The music blends electronic and acoustic elements into a rich sonic landscape that enhances the emotional world of the film. The performance is accompanied by visuals from the SŏN archives. Presented as a series of tableaux vivants, these images expand the film’s visual language and extend its narrative universe beyond the screen.