Shabier Kirchner gave Past Lives a visual patience that mirrors the twenty-year span. Seoul is rendered in warm, slightly hazy light — childhood memories with a golden cast. New York is cooler and more precise, lit by clean winter daylight and amber apartment lamps at night. Kirchner rarely uses dramatic lighting; he lets environments speak through existing light, giving the film an almost documentary naturalism. The final walk through nighttime New York is masterfully restrained — sodium streetlights, wet pavement, two figures in a city of eight million. For Fujifilm, subtlety is everything: small white balance shifts matter more than dramatic settings.
The Past Lives look, scene by scene
Past Lives contrasts two cities and two times: warm, soft memories of childhood in Seoul and the cool, clear present in New York. The camera is calm and patient, and the colour is gentle in both worlds.
Seoul memories
Warm, slightly hazy light with soft edges. Colour is gentle and nostalgic, like an old family photo.
Past Lives is shot with long, calm takes and lots of space around people. Busy, cluttered compositions won't feel right even with the right colour. Leave room in the frame and keep it simple.
Recipes
Seoul Memory
Warm golden childhood light, slightly hazy, soft at the edges
Best light: Soft, warm daylight — late afternoon, sunny streets. Too warm for cold, grey days.
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Did you nail the look? What to look for
Gentle, soft colour — nothing loud
Warm memories and cool present clearly separated
People small in calm, open frames
Soft contrast
A quiet, reflective mood
Past Lives recipes — FAQ
Which Fujifilm film simulation is best for a Past Lives look?
Nostalgic Neg for warm memory scenes and Classic Chrome for the cooler New York present.
How do I make city photos feel calm like Past Lives?
Use wide framing with lots of space around your subject, avoid clutter and shoot in soft light.
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. Nostalgic Neg needs an X-Trans V camera (or the X-H2/X-H2S); on an X-T4, X-S10 or X100V, Classic Neg is the closest substitute. Every body renders slightly differently, so take a few test shots and adjust.
Who was the cinematographer of Past Lives?
Shabier Kirchner, who shot the film on 35mm. Celine Song directed.