1943 Auschwitz II-Birkenau – The episode opens with young Lali Sokolov (Jonah Haeur-King) carrying a very ill Gita Furman (Anna Prochniak). He assures her that it will be okay when Leon (Phenix Brossard) enters the barracks and sees them. Lali turns to look at him before leaving with Gita. A short time later, Lali is struggling with a floorboard in his barracks when SS Officer Stefan Baretzki (Jonas Nay) enters. Staring at him intently, Baretzki says he is late, to which Lali apologizes. He asks why Lali is miserable. Lali asks about Gita. Ignoring the question, Baretzki informs him that Pepan (Adam Karst) will need to be replaced.

Hanna (Tallulah Haddon) rubs Gita’s head while she drinks Schnapps. Seeing SS Officer Houstek (Frederik Von Luttichau) approaching, Hanna hurriedly covers Gita. While Stiwitz (Alexander Schuster) looks over the paperwork, Gita drops her cup on the floor. They look at each other before Stiwtz goes over to retrieve the cup while saying crumbs attract rodents. Hannah is relieved to see the officers walk away.

Lali witnesses Vlad (Oleksandr Yatsenko) abusing Leon. When Lali checks on Leon, Vlad demands to know what he wants. Lali tells him that he is looking for another tattooist. Several prisoners volunteer but Lali chooses Leon. Vlad refuses to let him take Leon until Baretzki intervenes. As they are walking away, a prisoner is shot and another prisoner intentionally executes himself in the electric fence. Baretzki leads them past a group of prisoners playing instruments. A short time later, Baretzki learns from another officer that Gita is not in her barracks. Housetek is present when Lali asks if he can find out. Picking up a chair, Baretzki throws it at Lali but misses. Leon recalls falling in love with a singer while building sets for the opera house.

In the present, old Lali Sokolov (Harvey Keitel) tells Heather Morris (Melanie Lynskey) that Leon was possibly gay. Surprised, she asks if he was bothered by it. Laughing, he claims to have met homosexuals while working in a fashion shop. He says there were many types of clubs in 1943.

Auschwitz – Lali bribes Marta (Avital Lvova) to see Gita who is extremely weak. Ivana (Mili Eshet) informs him of Gita’s infected wound. He kisses her face. Believing she is going to die, she assures him that she isn’t afraid and promises to stay with him for as long as he lives. Marta orders them to leave. When Lali asks her to get Gita medicine, she refuses. Upon returning to the barracks, Lali finds two small Gypsy children in his room and the floor boards out of place. Irate, he demands to know what they did with his stuff. A woman calls the children out of the room. Lali removes something from his mattress. Later, he wakes up to find the two Gypsy children staring at him before running away. Nadya (Olivia Popica) greets him. Not feeling friendly, Lali demands they stay out of his room. He finds Leon riling up Vlad. An SS officer intervenes when Vlad beats him. Leon gets another wisecrack in before joining Leon.

In the present, Lali tells Heather that thought of all kinds of terrible ways to save Gita.

Auschwitz – Lali complains about the Gypsies when Baretzki informs them that prisoners at the hospital need tattoos. Refusing to go inside, Baretzki asks Leon and Lali to say hello to Dr. Schumann (Matthias Zera) for him. Screams and cries can be heard across the hospital. While tattooing, Leon begins to sing. Schumann has a brief look before returning to his room. After the tattoos are done, Lali thanks Leon who claims to have fallen in love with a tenor. A nurse refuses to give Lali medicine for Gita. A short time later, he pleads with a female prisoner working outside the clothing warehouse to give the medicine to Gita. She reluctantly picks it up off the ground.

In the present, Lali recalls asking Schumann for an antibacterial as a preventative medicine. Schumann offers to give an antimicrobial in exchange for putting a group of nude female prisoners in an area surrounded by an electric fence. Leon sees him remove a nude female prisoner from a barracks and put her with the other prisoners. Ana Katz (Eva Olhova) prisoner intentionally runs into the fence but is not electrocuted. Schumann claims to have requested the electricity be disabled. He gives Lali the medicine and dosage. Lali asks what will become of the women. Schumann says they have been sterilized and someone will collect them in the morning. He compliments Lali and promises to call on him again. The prisoner loudly identifies herself as Ana Katz. Heather assures Lali that he isn’t responsible for killing the female prisoners.

Auschwitz – While Baretzki is in the toilet, Leon gives Lali a bottle of Schnapps from the Polish. He recalls a difficult decision that took him away from other homosexuals in Berlin, to home, and now there. SS Guard Krauss (Levi Mattey) finds them together and asks Lali what they are doing. Before Lali can explain, Krauss orders him to drop his pants. Lali pulls down his pants and the Schnapps falls to the ground. Krauss takes a swig as Baretzki emerges from the toilet. Baretzki teases Krauss about stealing his Schnapps. Krauss hands the bottle to him. Baretzki orders Lali to pull up his pants and complains about the Jews not being able to carry out simple tasks like holding his Schnapps. As they walk away, Baretzki says if Lali gets in trouble, so does he. Lali admits to storing his stash in a hole outside the barracks. Baretzki asks what he gives the Polish in return. Lali says jewelry and other items from the warehouse. Baretzki asks for some cigarettes and Schnapps. Lali suggests putting Gita back in the warehouse will help them. Baretzki hits him and vows to let the SS guards shoot him if he tries it again.

Baretzki escorts Leon and Lali pass the clothing warehouse where Gita is working. Lali and Gita smile at each other. Later, Lali bribes Marta with two bottles of Schnapps to see Gita. They get intimate.

In the present, Heather arrives as Lali is going through Gita’s clothes. He proudly says they were married for 55 years until she passed away three months ago. A photo of young Lali and Gita on their wedding day sits on a table. He gifts her one of Gita’s fur coats. She reluctantly accepts it. He shows her a painting of a woman who reminds him of Nadya.

Auschwitz – Lali is playing with the children when he spots Nadya. Joining her on a bench, he apologizes for his previous behavior. She feels blessed that her children never lived to see the concentration camps. He tells her that she reminds him of his sister, Goldie (Katie Bernstein).

Leon and Lali are tattooing when Schumann approaches and asks Leon to go with him. Lali volunteers but Schumann says it is a task for Leon. He watches them walk away. Later, Lali goes to the administration building to replenish his tattooing supplies. Gita approaches him. Baretzki watches as they touch hands. Lali later spots Leon who appears to be in pain. Leon claims Schumann removes his testicles. Blood runs down his legs. Lali grabs him to keep him from falling.

Lali enters the barracks to find Baretzki and several other SS guards in his room. Baretzki is holding Gita’s necklace and the rest of his stuff is spread out on the bed. The episode ends.

 

 The Tattooist Of Auschwitz Review

Lali helps Dr. Schumann take freshly sterilized female prisoners to an outdoor area. Ana Katz tries to electrocute herself on the electric fence but Schumann had the power cut off. In exchange for Lali’s help, Schumann gives him antimicrobial medicine for an ailing Gita. With some pleading, Lali convinces a female prisoner working at the clothing warehouse to give the medicine to Gita.

Pepan is no longer a tattooist. Lali is tasked to find a replacement. He chooses a homosexual man named Leon to take Pepan’s place. Schumann removes Leon’s testicles.

Baretzki spares Lali from death when Krauss catches him with a bottle of Schnapps.  He claims the bottle as his own. In return, he wants Lali to get him cigarettes and Schnapps. Lali suggests putting Gita, who is much improved, back in the warehouse. Believing Lali is manipulating him, Baretzki slaps him and warns him against trying it again. Later, Gita’s position is restored.

Lali befriends a Gypsy woman. Nadya’s children died before they reached Auschwitz.

Lali tells Baretzki where he hides his stash. He returns to his room to find the guards with Gita’s necklace and other items.

 

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