by Alex Billington
May 1, 2026
Source: YouTube
“They are testaments that destruction can feed creation.” Grasshopper Film already released this film and it seems like it’s worth watching. This new trailer appeared online and it’s our first time posting about it. Angel Applicant is an autobiographical documentary film made by filmmaker Ken August Meyer. It first premiered back in 2023 at the SXSW Film Festival where it won Audience Award for Best Doc Film then. Paul Klee, a Swiss-German painter, fled Germany in 1933 when he and other modern artists were vilified by the rising Nazi Party. Isolated in Switzerland, a mysterious disease began wreaking havoc on his body & profoundly changing his artwork. Director Ken August Meyer explores Klee’s expressive last works after also being diagnosed with the same fatal disease, systemic scleroderma. He discovers empathetic wisdom on how to cope with his own challenges within Klee’s colorful paintings. Klee passed away in 1940 just at the start of WWII. It’s strange this film hasn’t been shown much since premiering in 2023 because it looks quite good. Especially because he takes the time go visit Switzerland exploring the mountains and Klee’s gallery in Bern.
Here’s the official trailer for Ken August Meyer’s doc film Angel Applicant, direct from YouTube:
Paul Klee, a Swiss-German painter, fled Germany in 1933 when he and other modern artists were vilified by the rising Nazi Party. Isolated in Switzerland, a mysterious disease began wreaking havoc on his body and profoundly changing his artwork. The documentary film’s narrator / director, Ken August Meyer, explores Klee’s expressive last works after being diagnosed with the exact same life-threatening disease, systemic scleroderma. Through a curation of Klee’s work, Ken finds powerful messages on coping with his own mortality. Using colorful and whimsical visuals, Angel Applicant echoes the mystique and ironic wit of Klee, demonstrating how creativity can inspire us to overcome personal suffering and make the most of life. Angel Applicant is directed by American indie filmmaker Kenneth August Meyer, his first and only feature film so far. Produced by Ken A Meyer and Jason Roark. This initially premiered at the 2023 SXSW Film Festival, and it also played at Hot Docs and DOC NYC. Grasshopper Film already released this to buy on DVD in 2025. For more info on how to watch it now, visit he film’s official site. Anyone interested in it?
