The Tattooist of Auschwitz is a Sky & Peacock original six-part historical drama television series based on the novel of the same name by Heather Morris. Produced by the BAFTA winning Synchronicity Films the cast includes Harvey Keitel, Melanie Lynskey, Jonah Hauer-King, and Anna Próchniak. Frederik plays the SS officer Josef Houstek.
The Tattooist of Auschwitz is the story of Lali (Jonah Hauer-King), a Slovakian Jew, who, in 1942, was deported to Auschwitz, the concentration camp where over a million Jews were murdered during the Holocaust. Shortly after arrival, Lali was made one of the Tätowierer (tattooists), charged to ink identification numbers onto fellow prisoners’ arms. One day, he met Gita (Anna Próchniak) when tattooing her prisoner number on her arm, leading to a love that defies the horrors around them. So began a courageous and unforgettable, story. Under constant guard from a volatile Nazi SS officer Baretzki (Jonas Nay), Lali and Gita became determined to keep each other alive. Around 60 years later, Lali (Harvey Keitel) then in his 80s, met aspiring writer Heather Morris (Melanie Lynskey). Recently widowed, Lali found the courage to tell the world his story. In recounting his past to Heather, Lali finally confronted the traumatic ghosts of his youth and relived his memories of falling in love in the darkest of places.
Barbra Streisand: “Because of the rise in antisemitism around the world today, I wanted to sing “Love Will Survive” in the context of this series, as a way of remembering the six-million souls who were lost less than 80 years ago. And also to say that even in the darkest of times, the power of love can triumph and endure.”
Harvey Keitel: “The love story in this project, in the face of the horror, gives testimony to the spirit and the goodness of people.”
“The Tattooist of Auschwitz puts the dichotomy of the human spirit on full display, showing the possibility of love and the unimaginable monstrosity that hatred can bring.”
“Watching the quality series, episode by episode, is heavy lifting. A shining romance spins at its core, but doesn’t dull the sting of despair.”
“The Tattooist of Auschwitz is quick to clarify that theirs is not exactly a happily ever after. The glimpses we have of the couple in the years after their release shimmer with love, but are also shadowed by guilt and depression; as Lali puts it, “The past followed us like a sick dog.”
“The pace is fast, the relentless brutality interspersed with brooding, thoughtful, beautifully acted moments from both the young and old Lalis. It’s an excellent portrayal of a familiar subject matter.”
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CAST
Jonah Hauer-King — Lali Sokolov
Anna Próchniak — Gita Furmanova
Melanie Lynskey — Heather Morris
Harvey Keitel — Lali Sokolov
Jonas Nay — Stefan Baretzki
Tallulah Haddon — Hanna
Mili Eshet — Ivana
Maja Wolska — Bella
Avital Lvova — Marta
Yali Topol Margalith — Cilka
Phénix Brossard — Leon
Adam Karst — Pepan
Yoav Rotman — Mordowicz
Frederik von Lüttichau — Josef Houstek
Alexander Schuster — Stiwitz
Gonny Gaakeer — Naomi Hoffmanova
Andrei Nova — Captain Petrov
Katie Bernstein — Goldie
Ilan Galkoff — Aaron
Erika Kaar — Katerin
Alexander Terentyev — Commander Volkov
Olivia Popica — Nadya
Paul Boche — Schwarzhuber
Marcel Sabat — Tomas
Isaac Gryn — Martin
Lukás Frlajs — Henrich
Levi Mattey — Krauss
Maciej Salamon — Viktor
Simon Stache — Pery Broad
Miriam Rossi — Zlata
Henrieta Mickovicová — Serena
Amelie Hennig — Kristel
Dylan Corbett-Bader — Jakub
Ellie de Lange — Esther
George Zuban — Andrei
Joseph Ollman — Boris
Oleksandr Yatsenko — Vlad
Gabriel Constantin — Jozef
Jana Kvantiková — Pregnant Woman
George Lasha — Bronsky
Delia Mayer — Sarah
Daniel Charles Doherty — Officer Woods
Farina Flebbe — Roza
Matthias Zera — Dr. Schumann
Karin Ann Karin Ann — Maria
Jeanne Jaeger — Greta
Beka Bediana — Conrad
Tamlyn Henderson — David Morris - Director Tali Shalom-Ezer
- Written & adapted for television Jacquelin Perske
- Executive producer Claire Mundell, Jacquelin Perske
- Producers Claire Mundell, Brian Donovan
- Story producer Ruth Underwood
- Associate producer Evan Placey
- Casting Kelly Valentine Hendry, Lilly Hanbury
- Director of Photography David Katznelson
- Production Designer Stevie Herbert
- Editor Joe Sawyer
- Music Hans Zimmer, Kara Talve
- Score Producer Russel Emanuel
- “Love will survive” performed by Barbara Streisand
- Make up Frances Hounsom
- Costume Designer Ján Kocman
- VFX Supervising Producer Alan Church
- VFX Supervisor Simon Giles
- 1st Assistant Director Matt Cooper
- Historical and jewish consultant Naomi Gryn
- Story Consultant Heather Morris
- Stunt Coordinator Roman Jankovič