'The Tattooist of Auschwitz' Is a Harrowing Drama

The global debut of Sky/Peacock’s The Tattooist of Auschwitz was timed for May 2, the anniversary of the fall of Berlin in 1945, and the conclusion of this year’s Passover. It is particularly timely with a rise in anti-Semitism and a right-wing swing both here and in Europe (raising the issue that those unspeakable creeds and beliefs never really went away). The six-part series presents a love story set in an unbelievably cruel world of violence and moral ambiguity, a reminder of the worst of us and our best. It challenges us to question what we would do should we ever have to choose between integrity and survival; not surprisingly, it’s difficult viewing.

The series is directed by Tali Shalom-Ezer (The Psychologist), adapted from Heather Morris’s 2017 book of the same name, with an accomplished global cast. Morris consulted with writers Jacquelin Perske, Evan Placey, and Gabbie Asher, correcting some of the errors in her book. Hans Zimmer (Dune) and Kara Talve (Prehistoric Planet) wrote the soundtrack, and  Barbra Streisand’s new song, “Love Will Survive,” her first release in six years, plays over the closing credits.

Aged Auschwitz-Birkenau survivor Lali Sokolov (beautifully acted by Harvey Keitel, Life on Mars), recently widowed and now an Australian citizen, breaks his silence over what happened sixty years ago. Running out of time, he has put out a call for someone to chronicle his story. Medical administrator, mom of three, and aspiring writer Heather (Melanie Lynskey, Yellowjackets) responds. Their relationship develops into a close, sweet friendship. Lali initially defines his as a love story, but his tone suggests irony, longing, skepticism, and loss. Heather wants it to be a love story, and we discover with her that it’s also a story of survival, courage, and guilt. We all want a happy ending, no matter how harrowing the journey may be.