The Tattooist of Auschwitz

Matt Roush says...

A wrenching six-part adaptation of Heather Morris’ harrowing yet uplifting non-fiction Holocaust novel stars Harvey Keitel in an affecting performance as the title character, Lali Sokolov. A survivor of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp during the Holocaust of World War II, he tells his story of survival more than a half-century later to novice writer Morris (Melanie Lynskey), framing his account as the most unlikely of love stories. It was in Auschwitz, assigned to tattoo numbers onto incoming prisoners, that he meets and falls for new arrival and future wife Gita (luminous Anna Próchniak). Their hidden and forbidden affair embodies the overarching theme “love will survive,” which is also the title of the haunting new song Barbra Streisand sings over the end credits. All six episodes are available at launch. (See the full review.)

What's Worth Watching (May 2)