“The Tattooist of Auschwitz”, broadcast this evening on M6, transports us to the horror of the concentration camps. Was the mini-series really filmed in this historic location?
This Wednesday, January 22, M6 is broadcasting the first two episodes of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, an event mini-series based on the eponymous bestseller written by Heather Morris.
Inspired by a true story, this six-episode fiction follows Lali (Harvey Keitel), a recently widowed octogenarian who decides to tell his story to Heather Morris, an aspiring writer.
In 1942, this Slovak Jew was deported to Auschwitz, where he was responsible for tattooing identification numbers on the arms of other prisoners. By telling Heather about her past, Lali finally confronts the traumatic ghosts of her youth and relives her memories of love in the darkest moments of history.
Where was the series filmed?
Between past and present, The Tattooist of Auschwitz is punctuated by numerous flashbacks which transport viewers to the horror of the Auschwitz concentration camps. However, the series teams did not set up their cameras in this place steeped in history.
-It is in fact in Slovakia that the series was filmed. The production teams meticulously recreated the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, working closely with historians and survivors to ensure historical accuracy. The indoor scenes were filmed in studios.
Working closely with survivors
Israeli director Tali Shalom-Ezer was chosen to shoot The Tattooist of Auschwitz. Aware that recounting such a dark and complex history required an approach that was both respectful and nuanced, she worked closely with Holocaust survivors and historians.
She also made sure that every detail, from the decor to the costumes, accurately reflected the reality of the concentration camps. “Finding the right tone for the story was a challenge; it was very collaborative work, with many voices and ideas”, she confided.
Catch the first two episodes of The Tattooist of Auschwitz this Wednesday, January 22 from 9:10 p.m. on M6. The evening continues at 11:15 p.m. with the broadcast of the documentary “The true story of the Auschwitz tattooist”, which tells a story of love and hope that triumphs over horror and chaos, while retracing the functioning of the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp.
