In 2018, while directing a project for GHD hair care and London agency Southpaw, I met David Allen, a Chicago tattoo artist renowned for his mastectomy work. Through him, I met Molly—a young breast cancer survivor who chose to cover her scars with his intricate floral designs.

 

As a Jewish woman, I was struck by her decision. We both grew up with Leviticus 19:28 hanging over us: "You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh... nor tattoo any marks on you." In addition, my own grandparents had been forcibly tattooed during the Holocaust.

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I had to know: How did Molly reconcile her faith with her choice? Were her struggles with survival bigger than religious judgment? Did these questions even matter if tattoos helped her reclaim her body?

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The film was initially focused on Jewish perspectives on tattoos, expanding to encompass diverse stories of trauma and recovery. My Jewish background and family history with Holocaust tattoos added depth to the exploration, giving it highly personal meaning for me. 

As the project evolved, it shifted from religious interpretation to broader themes of overcoming biases and finding beauty in transformed bodies. My aim is to tell authentic stories of individuals who use tattoos to heal both physical and emotional scars, challenging societal taboos.