How to watch The Tattooist of Auschwitz online and from anywhere

The official synopsis reads: “The Tattooist of Auschwitz is the story of one man, Lali (played by 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 (played by 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 (played by Jonas Nay), Lali and Gita became determined to keep each other alive.

Around 60 years later, Lali (portrayed by Harvey Keitel) then in his 80s, met aspiring writer Heather Morris (played by 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.”

• Harvey Keitel as Lali Sokolov
• Jonah Hauer-King as younger Lali Sokolov
• Melanie Lynskey as Heather Morris
• Jonas Nay as Stefan Baretzki
• Anna Próchniak as Gita
• Karin Ann as Maria
• Yali Topol Margalith as Cilka
• Oleksandr Yatsenko as Vlad

The Tattooist of Auschwitz is based on the book of the same name by Heather Morris. Morris met with Lali Sokolov numerous times over a three year period from 2003 until Sokolov’s death in 2006, hearing his account of his time in Auschwitz and compiling the notes that would form the basis of her 2018 book. 

The TV adaptation will use these meetings as a framing device for the story, featuring Yellowjackets star Melanie Lynskey as Morris and Harvey Kietel as Sokolov. 

The character biography reads: “Lali in his younger years draws on his natural ingenuity and sharp wits, his resourcefulness and his carefully calculated courage, to survive the most horrendous concentration camp of modern times. His survival instinct is married with kindness, though it disappoints him that he is not as altruistic as others. He helps as many as he can but is haunted by the certain knowledge, he can’t help everyone. As the series develops, so does his realisation of the injustice of his own survival over others – where no individual deserves it more than any other.”

Gary Skolov (son of Lali and Gita Sokolov): “Dad finally found someone he trusted enough to tell his story. He needed to tell it. I can’t imagine, knowing Heather, that he could have told it to anyone else. The world needs to know this story, especially now, where hope is really important. My Dad was always about PMA – positive mental attitude. When all else fails, you’ve got to find a way to laugh. If you possibly can. It’s what kept my parents alive in the camp.”

The score comes courtesy of Multi Academy Award-winning composer Hans Zimmer and Kara Talve, making The Tattooist of Auschwitz the first drama series to boast a full score from the iconic composer. Zimmer is known for classic film scores such as The Dark Knight, Interstellar, Dune, Gladiator and Pirates of the Caribbean.  

The end title song for the show, meanwhile, has been recorded by Barbra Streisand. Entitled “Love Will Survive”, the song is in the vein of Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” and Bryan Adams’ “Everything I Do (I Do It For You)”, an epic ode to love conquering all.