It is 2023, in Melbourne when the series opens. Old Lale Sokolov (Harvey Keitel) recalls an incident at Auschwitz-Birkenau in Poland. SS Guard Krauss (Levi Mattey) escorts young Lale Sokolov (Jonah Hauer-King) across the camp to allow him a glimpse of Gita Furmanova (Anna Prochniak). In the present, old Lale envisions Gita in his home. At Auschwitz, Gita approaches Lale before Hanna (Tallulah Haddon) can pull her away. Stefan Baretski (Jonas Nay) urges Lale to go back inside. In the present, Baretski assures old Lale that he is there. Heather Morris (Melanie Lynskey) offers to write Lale’s life story. He asks if she is Jewish. She claims to be a member of the Church of England. He warns that he will not live much longer before starting his story.

Bratislava 1942 – Young Lale and his date are kissing when they hear a commotion a short distance away. He walks around the corner to see Boris (Joseph Ollman) and another man beating someone. He intervenes and the victim flees. Boris says he and Lale went to school together. The other man reminds them of the curfew and asks if her father knows Lale is Jewish. Lale punches him. Boris convinces him to not retaliate because Lale’s fun will soon be over.

Mr. Pavlic (Michael Rezny) releases Lale and his other Jewish workers with the promise of a job when the war is over. A street vendor refuses to take Lale’s money for a bouquet of flowers. Later, Lale returns to his family’s place in Krompachy, Germany. Sarah (Delia Mayer) excitedly greets him with an embrace. At dinner, Lale reads a brochure about the Slovakian government requiring at least one member of every Jewish household to sign up for work duty as part of the war effort. Maks volunteers to represent the family. Lale insists on going to allow Tomas to stay with his wife and his father, Jozef Sokolov (Gabriel Constantin) at home.

Sarah gives Lale a book, “Kaukasische Marchen.” Sarah and Goldie (Katie Bernstein) watch him board a train to Poprad. Back in the present, old Lale mourns his mother, Sarah. On Thursday, Heather returns to hear more of Lale’s love story. In the past, young Lale is in Poprad waiting to register for work duty. Aaron (Ilan Galkoff) asks where they are taking them. Lale says Poland for training when he spots Boris standing by the rail. Boris warns him against getting on the train to Poland before disappearing into the smoke. Back to the present, old Lale tells Heather that Boris knew about the work camps. He says it was impossible to flee because the place was heavily guarded.

In the past, a prisoner complains about the filthy conditions inside the train. A guard strikes him with a baton. Frantic, the Jews board the train while the prisoner lies bleeding on the ground. Upon arrival in Poland, Lale and the others emerge from the train. He turns to see luggage and personal items lying on the ground. A guard welcomes them to Auschwitz and urges them to work hard for their freedom. Men and women are separated into two groups.

The men are ordered to strip and wash before donning a clean uniform. Heads shaved, the men later line up to be tattooed by Pepan (Adam Karst). When it comes Aaron’s turn, he is too frantic to move. Lale takes his place. Pepan tells him that he is a good man before prepping his skin for a tattoo. Lale grimaces through the process. Later, the tattooed men board a wagon. Back to the present, old Lale rubs his finger across his tattoo. In the past, the wagon pulls up to a field where prisoners are working. Later, the men are packed in crowded bunks. A prisoner says their cows are treated better. Moos can be heard across the room. Unable to sleep, Lale walks outside and witnesses a random execution of three prisoners by Baretzki. Lale panics but doesn’t scream. Back to the present, old Lale envisions Baretzki questioning the legitimacy of his story. Lale curses him.

The prisoners are awakened every morning to line up outside. Old Lale says it lives in his mind and sleep allows him to forget but it comes back when he wakes. In the past, Lale is ordered to deliver two boxes of nails to Viktor (Maciej Salamon) working on a roof. Ascending a ladder, he looks out over the vast land to see buildings going up. Viktor tells him that he is a paid builder, not a prisoner. Two truckloads of deceased prisoners arrive. The foul odor makes Lale vomit. In their bunks, Aaron claims to be a virgin. Lale complains of being cold. The next morning. Baretzki sarcastically suggests he needs the death cart. Aaron tries to bargain with Baretzki to let Lale stay in bed but he fails.

Aaron is in line with the other prisoners when he sees guards put Lale who has typhus on the death cart. He knocks the food bucket on the ground. Prisoners race over to scoop the food into their hands and eat it. A guard beats them with a baton. Aaron and another prisoner carry Lale back to his bunk. He tells him to fight the sickness and kisses him before they rejoin the other prisoners. Lale hallucinates Sarah urging him to drink water. He crawls over the water bucket and drinks.

Pepan tells Lale if he becomes a tattooist, he will get better food and a good place to sleep. Lale refuses the offer and as he is walking away, Pepan says it is a way to survive, not a career. The next morning, the prisoners are lined up as usual. A prisoner collapses on the ground. Baretzki hits the prisoner in the face with his gun. Back to the present, old Lale says at 26, he wanted to survive, so he accepted Pepan’s offer. In the past, Baretzki informs Lale that he is in charge of the tattooists and asks his age. Lale says 26 and asks his age. Baretzki backslaps him. Arriving at his new sleeping quarters, Lale asks if he can sleep with the other prisoners. Baretzki says now that he works for the SS, he will need protection. Later, Lale apologizes to a prisoner before tattooing his skin.

Lale returns to the old barracks with food to learn Aaron is gone. Back to the present, old Lale tells Heather that 17-year-old Aaron was taken to the gas chamber. Teary-eyed, she apologizes. Later, Lale remembers his old bunkmates refusing his food. Conrad (Beka Bediana) claims Aaron was taken in Lale’s place because he is a tattooist. He calls Lale a Nazi dog. Lale grapples with his decision to be a tattooist. Baretzki says he is special and escorts him to an area where two nude prisoners lay dead. Lale looks at the prisoners’ numbers. Baretzki laughs while saying Lale will be the only Jew to walk in and walk out.

Lale apologizes while tattooing a female prisoner. Taking a seat across from him, Gita asks what he says when he tattoos the prisoners. He says, “I’m sorry.” Smiling, she describes his eyes as looking like the sky and for a pink tattoo. She weeps as he tattoos numbers on her arm.

 

The Tattooist Of Auschwitz Synopsis

Every Jewish household is required to submit one family member for work duty. Single and newly unemployed, Lale volunteers to allow his father and brother, Jozef and Tomas to stay home. The Jews are forced to work and sleep in deplorable conditions. Food rations are limited and some prisoners contract typhus, including Lale. Aaron keeps Lale from being carted away on the death cart.

Seeing Lale is an honorable man, Pepan offers his a tattooist position, with the prospect of better food and sleeping arrangements. Initially, he refuses but the declining conditions and torture force him to change his mind. He later learns Aaron takes his place in the gas chamber. The prisoners from his old barracks feel betrayed by his decision.

Lale is a sympathetic and caring tattooist. While tattooing the female prisoners, he meets Gita for the first time.

 

The Tattooist Of Auschwitz Review

With limited knowledge of the Holocaust, I dare to challenge the legitimacy of Lale Sokolov’s “love story.” Jonah Hauer-King should be commended for his wonderful performance. Jonas Nay and Ilan Galkoff did a stupendous job bringing their characters to life. It must have been extremely difficult for Nay to put himself in the role of ruthless SS officer, Stefan Baretski.

The cinematography is good. The editing is a bit off but it barely noticeable. My biggest qualm is the pace which is at times unbearably slow. The switch backs in time are without warning and far too often. I felt Poprad would have been a more effective starting point and continuing to the present. Although, it would have been nice to see what led up to Auschwitz and how the Jewish community responded.

The setting is grim and depressing. The nude prisoners in the underground floor looked fake.

The episode deserves a 6 out of 10. Get more The Tattooist of Auschwitz recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by donating. Learn how advertising with us can help build your brand awareness. Join our newly established form to discuss new and classic TV shows, crime, and celebrity happenings.