Recipes›Amelie
Jean-Pierre Jeunet — Bruno Delbonnel

Amelie

2001Warm & NostalgicPastel & Soft

The Cinematography

Bruno Delbonnel created Amelies visual world through a radical color intervention: the entire film was digitally regraded to suppress blues and amplify greens and yellows, giving Paris the quality of a faded postcard from a world slightly more magical than our own. Red is used as a deliberate accent color that pops against the golden-green base.

The Amelie look, scene by scene

Amélie paints Paris in warm greens, golds and reds. Colours were heavily pushed in the digital grade to create a fairy-tale city. Cafés glow, streets are soft and green, and red appears as a constant accent.

The café

Warm golden-green interior, glowing and cosy. Colour is rich and saturated.

Recipe: Cafe des 2 Moulins ↓

Paris streets

Soft overcast light with muted greens and warm stone. Gentle and romantic.

Recipe: Canal Saint-Martin ↓

Close-ups

Contrasty, warm close-ups with red accents. Playful and intimate.

Recipe: Photo Booth ↓

Green and red are the key

Amélie's palette isn't just warm — it's specifically green, gold and red. Remove most blue from the scene and look for green and red details.

Recipes

Cafe des 2 Moulins
The warm golden-green interior of Amelies cafe, everything glowing
Best light: Warm cafés and interiors with lamps. Too warm for daylight.
Film SimulationVelvia/Vivid
GrainOff
Color ChromeWeak
CC FX BlueOff
White BalanceIncandescent
WB ShiftR+1 / B-4
Dynamic RangeDR100
Highlight+0
Shadow+0
Color+2
Sharpness+0
Noise Reduction+0
Clarity+1
ISOISO 200-400
Why these settings
Incandescent WB, R+1 / B-4
Removes blue for a golden-green glow.
Velvia/Vivid, Color +2
Rich, saturated colour.
Clarity +1
Crisp detail.
Canal Saint-Martin
Soft overcast exterior with muted greens and warm stone
Best light: Overcast city streets, parks, canals. Too soft for sunny scenes.
Film SimulationAstia/Soft
GrainWeak/Small
Color ChromeWeak
CC FX BlueOff
White BalanceShade
WB ShiftR+0 / B-3
Dynamic RangeDR200
Highlight+1
Shadow+0
Color+1
Sharpness-1
Noise Reduction-1
Clarity+0
ISOISO 400-800
Why these settings
Shade WB, B-3
Warm, blue-free tones.
Astia/Soft, Color +1
Soft, gentle colour.
Highlight +1
Bright, airy highlights.
Photo Booth
Contrasty close-ups with strong warm tones and red accents
Best light: Indoor close-ups with warm light. Too warm for daylight.
Film SimulationClassic Chrome
GrainWeak/Large
Color ChromeStrong
CC FX BlueOff
White BalanceIncandescent
WB ShiftR+2 / B-3
Dynamic RangeDR100
Highlight-1
Shadow+1
Color+1
Sharpness+1
Noise Reduction-2
Clarity+1
ISOISO 400-800
Why these settings
Incandescent WB, R+2 / B-3
Warm tones with red emphasis.
DR100, Shadow +1
Contrasty, punchy look.
Grain Weak/Large
Playful film texture.
Kit list
Amelie · 2001 · DP Bruno Delbonnel

The recipe handles colour and tone. These handle what a recipe can't.

For this look
warm & nostalgic
NEEWER 43" reflector with grip

Bounce low sun back into faces. The gold side adds the honeyed fill these warm recipes are built around.

View ↗
pastel & soft
K&F Concept Black Mist 1/4

A light mist filter blooms highlights and softens contrast — the haze a pastel recipe alone can only hint at.

View ↗
The camera
Body
Fujifilm X-S20
The lighter, cheaper way in
View ↗
Lens
XF 23mm f/1.4 R
35mm-equiv — the street & cinematic classic
View ↗
Accessory
Sony TOUGH SD (UHS-II V90)
Fast enough for the 40MP bodies
View ↗
Watch the reference
Stream it
Amelie on Prime Video

Rent or stream it tonight, then pause on a frame and shoot it.

View ↗
Own it
Amelie — 4K UHD / Blu-ray

The disc carries far more image detail than a stream — worth it for a film you study.

View ↗
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Did you nail the look? What to look for

  • Warm green and golden tones
  • Red accents
  • Almost no blue
  • Cosy, glowing interiors
  • A whimsical, fairy-tale mood

Amelie recipes — FAQ

Which Fujifilm film simulation is best for an Amélie look?

Velvia for warm café interiors, Astia for soft street scenes and Classic Chrome for contrasty close-ups.

How do I get Amélie's green-gold colour?

Reduce blue in the white balance (B-3 to B-4) and look for scenes with green and red details. The recipes are built around this.

Which Fujifilm cameras can use these recipes?

All settings work on current X-Trans V bodies such as the X-T5, X-S20, X-T50 and X100VI. The X-T4, X-S10, X-Pro3 and X100V run them as well, and X-T3-era bodies can use them if you skip Clarity and Color Chrome FX Blue. Every body renders slightly differently, so take a few test shots and adjust.

Who was the cinematographer of Amélie?

Bruno Delbonnel, who was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Cinematography. Jean-Pierre Jeunet directed.

Got your own still from Amelie?
Upload it to the generator for a custom recipe.
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Recipes are starting points — every camera body renders differently. Shoot a test roll and adjust to taste.
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