‘The Tattooist of Auschwitz’ Review: Peacock Holocaust Drama Leaves an Indelible Mark

Harvey Keitel stars as a survivor haunted by memories in a limited series that plays like a romance novel disguised as misery porn

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Harvey Keitel and Melanie Lynskey in "The Tattooist of Auschwitz." (Martin Mlaka/Sky UK)

In a season post October 7th, as Pro-Palestinian students at Columbia University and beyond escalate their protests with intimidating chants, and the Israeli attack on Gaza has intensified global Antisemitism, it seems to be even harder to critique a boutique limited series like “The Tattooist of Auschwitz.” How can a Holocaust drama be viewed in anything but a positive light? It seems impossible to disconnect the dark romance from this fraught moment where victims and victimizers are engaged in a battle for survival.

Didn’t we learn this lesson already? Perhaps not.

So we crack open the story of WWII Nazi atrocities again.

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