in april 1942 lale sokolov a slovakian jew is forcibly transported to the concentration camps at auschwitzbirkenau when his captors discover that he speaks several languages he is put to work as a ttowierer the german word for tattooist tasked with permanently marking his fellow prisonersimprisoned for more than two and a half years lale witnesses horrific atrocities and barbarismbut also incredible acts of bravery and compassion risking his own life he uses his privileged position to exchange jewels and money from murdered jews for food to keep his fellow prisoners aliveone day in july 1942 lale prisoner 32407 comforts a trembling young woman waiting in line to have the number 34902 tattooed onto her arm her name is gita and in that first encounter lale vows to somehow survive the camp and marry hera vivid harrowing and ultimately hopeful recreation of lale sokolovs experiences as the man who tattooed the arms of thousands of prisoners with what would become one of the most potent symbols of the holocaust the tattooist of auschwitz is also a testament to the endurance of love and humanity under the darkest possible conditions