Son of the Tattooist of Auschwitz says Harvey Keitel's depiction of his father in new Sky drama left him 'in tears' and he 'couldn't tell the difference' between the star and his dad

The son of the Holocaust survivor whose life story was made famous in the Tattooist of Auschwitz has told how Hollywood star Harvey Keitel's portrayal of his father in a new Sky adaptation left him in tears.

Gary Sokolov's father Lali, a Slovakian Jew, was forced to work as the tattooist at the Nazis' death camp in occupied Poland.

It was in that role that he met his future wife Gita, when she stood before him terrified as he tattooed a number on her arm.

Lali and Gita were separated in 1945 but found each other by chance after the war and went on to marry before having son Gary in 1961 following their emigration to Australia. 

Their story is depicted in Sky's retelling of Heather Morris's bestselling novel the Tattooist of Auschwitz, which was released to great acclaim in 2018 after the author spent three years interviewing Lali. 

Lali is portrayed during his time at Auschwitz by The Little Mermaid Star Jonah Hauer-King, 28, and then Taxi Driver's Harvey Keitel, 84, as an elderly man. 

Mr Sokolov, who is now in his early 60s and lives in Melbourne, said in an interview with Sky to promote the show: 'There were moments when I couldn't tell the difference between my father and Harvey Keitel. 

'He was my father on every single level. If he wasn't, I wouldn't have spent so much time in tears.'

The son of the Holocaust survivor whose life story was made famous in the Tattooist of Auschwitz has told how Hollywood star Harvey Keitel's portrayal of his father in a new Sky adaptation left him in tears. Above: Harvey Keitel as Lali Sokolov; Lali with his wife Gita

Gary Sokolov was born in 1961. His parents married in October 1945 after their ordeal at Auschwitz. Above: Gary with his mother and father

Morris met Lali after being told by his and Gita's son Gary that he wanted to tell his story, which he had kept secret for decades because he feared he would be viewed as a Nazi collaborator. 

It was only after his wife died in 2003 that he felt able to recount what happened to him and Gita. 

Morris, a former social worker, spent the next three years meeting Lali several times a week, getting every aspect of his story down on paper. 

Lali died aged 90 in 2006 after developing a close friendship with Morris. 

The author initially tried to get his story turned into a film but then opted to write her novel.

Mr Sokolov said that his father found in Morris 'someone he trusted enough to tell his story'. 

'He needed to tell it. I can't imagine, knowing Heather, that he could have told it to anyone else.

'The world needs to know this story, especially now, where hope is really important.' 

Keitel, who is best known for his collaborations with director Martin Scorsese, said: 'I am honoured to hopefully bring to light through our dramatization of Lali's story the horror of the Holocaust and keep this history relevant as there are fewer Holocaust survivor's alive to tell their own stories.'

Mr Sokolov, who is now in his early 60s and lives in Melbourne , said in an interview with Sky to promote the show: 'There were moments when I couldn't tell the difference between my father and Harvey Keitel'. Above: Mr Sokolov attending a screening for the show in London on April 9

Melanie Lynskey as Heather Morris, interviewing Sokolov (played by Harvey Keitel) in later life

Melanie Lynskey as Heather Morris and Harvey Keitel as Lali Sokolov

Harvey Keitel as the older Lali Sokolov in his Melbourne apartment

He said he prepared for the role by reading books by survivors Eli Wiesel and Viktor Frankl and also watching videos of interviews with Lali.

His preparation - which included wearing prosthetics to make him look more like Lali - paid off, according to Mr Sokolov.

'The way he portrayed Dad was beyond anything I could ever had expected,' he said.

'There is a saying in Jewish culture, kavod - which is the ultimate level of respect – and he gave that to my Dad. 

'Just talking about it makes me cry! When Heather sent me a photo, I had to do a double take. I looked at it. Looked away. Looked again. 

Lali and Gita Sokolov in later life. Their romance survived against all the odds

Lali and Gita joyfully embrace in a photo that was taken after their wartime ordeal in the Holocaust 

'I wasn't sure if it was my father or Harvey Keitel. When I watched the series, I was in tears within the first ten seconds of the trailer because Harvey looked and sounded like my father. 

'He had that little bit of hardness in his eyes that my father had. His eyes were my father's eyes – when he spoke about my mother he was tearing up, which is what my dad did. 

'I didn't feel as though I was watching Harvey in the series, I thought I was watching my father.'   

Lali, who was born in Slovakia in 1916, was herded off to Auschwitz in a packed cattle train in horrendous conditions.

Like every other prisoner who was not immediately sent off to die, he was given a number which became his name. His - 32407 - was tattooed on his arm by a French academic named Pepan.

He was initially sent to work on the construction of new housing blocks as the camp expanded.

When Lali contracted typhoid soon after arriving at Auschwitz, he was cared for by Pepan, who set him to work as his assistant.

Polish actress Anna Próchniak (right) as Gita. Like Lali she was deported to Auschwitz but survived

Próchniak portraying Gita in The Tattooist of Auschwitz, which debuted today on Sky

When Pepan was shipped out of Auschwitz one day, Lali was made the main tattooist.

Lali met Gita in July 1942 when she was presented in front of him. Years later he would tell Morris how, as he tattooed her number on her arm, he fell in love.

With the help of Lale's personal SS guard, he smuggled letters to her. These letters led to visits outside her block in Birkenau.

He also smuggled her his extra rations and got her moved to a better work station.

In 1945, the Nazis began forcing prisoners on death marches to other camps as the Russians closed in amid Germany's ensuing defeat in the war.

It was then that Lali and Gita were separated when she was sent away.

Lali also eventually left the camp and made his way back to his home town of Krompachy in Czechoslovakia.

Incredibly, the pair were reunited when Gita stepped out in front of his horse and cart.

Lali had been on his way to Bratislava - the entry point for survivors returning home - to look for her.

A new Sky adaptation of Morris's novel is being released this week. The six-part series stars both Jonah Hauer-King (left) and Harvey Keitel as Lali, whilst Polish actress Anna Próchniak (right) portrays Gita

The couple emigrated to Australia in 1949 after getting married in the final months of 1945.  

Asked how he felt after seeing the six-part show, Mr Sokolov said: 'I don't have the words. The respect that was given to my father and my mother and their story was beyond anything I could have imagined. I really hope the world feels the same way. 

Heather Morris' book was published in 2018 

'It's what I wanted for my parents: for the world to know their story. So, yes, it's fantastic. Am I allowed to cry?'

He was also full of praise for Melanie Lynskey's portrayal of Morris in the show, saying the New Zealander did a 'phenomenal job'.

He added: 'I didn't understand until I watched the show what Heather herself had been through, hearing my Dad's stories and then going home to her family. 

'Heather filled a hole for my Dad when my mother passed away. 

'I remember Heather saying to me that whatever happens, I'll always take care of your Dad.

'I don't think anyone else could have done the job that Heather did with my Dad. She gave my Dad so much respect.

'In fact, the thing that really struck me overall was that each and every person on the show gave my parents' story respect.'

Polish actress Anna Próchniak portrays Gita. The show's director Tali Shalom-Ezer, said: 'When I read the scripts I felt like all the questions I had when I read the book were answered.

'Lali only started to tell his story 60 years after he left Auschwitz and we know the nature of memory is that events can be jumbled up.

'There were questions for me about how he felt about his special position. I'm glad we're getting to explore some of that.'