After a heated auction among multiple parties, British indie producer Synchronicity Films has secured the rights to Heather Morris’ book The Tattooist of Auschwitz.
The book is written by Australia-based author Heather Morris, and draws on years of interviews with Holocaust survivor and Auschwitz-Birkenau tattooist Ludwig (Lale) Sokolov, a Jewish prisoner who was tasked with tattooing identification numbers on prisoners’ arms in the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp during World War Two. One day, he met Gita while she was waiting in line to be tattooed and it was love at first sight. And so began one of the most life-affirming, courageous, unforgettable and human stories of the Holocaust and a tale of the very best of humanity in the very worst of circumstances.
The series is already in development and Synchronicity plans to air in January 2020, to coincide with the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. Australian writer-producer Jacquelin Perske, is attached to write.
Claire Mundell, founder and creative director at Synchronicity Films said, “We are beyond thrilled to have secured the rights to this incredibly brilliant, confronting and uplifting book. I fell in love with it within a few pages and was desperate to bring it to the screen, to reach the widest audience possible for this unforgettable story. There was a huge amount of interest in this title and I am grateful that Heather Morris, Bonnier Books UK and CAA responded so well to our vision for the story.”
Author Morris has said of the adaptation, “Lale Sokolov placed a great deal of trust in me when he first shared his story. I am now passing that baton on and am so pleased that Synchronicity Films was successful in negotiating for the rights. Claire and her colleagues have an obvious passion for my book and have demonstrated clear sensitivity to producing a real person’s story. I know Lale will be smiling down at this new phase of his and Gita’s story”.
It looks like we’re in for an incredible series. Read our 4.5 star review of the book.
