Mise-en-Scene in opening scene of Batman Begins
Element of Mise-en-Scene
POINT
Scenery, setting and props
Lighting
What this signifies
EVIDENCE
EXPLANATION
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Setting sinister tone to scare and thrill audience
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Opening scene – hundreds of bats flying in
dark sky
Children running excitedly through gardens
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Spear-head that children argue over
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Black bats contrast against dark and cloudy
sky; in background, form of large bat can
be seen
Bright sky which bats fly towards at top of
well when Bruce is in darkness
Children dressed in contemporary clothing
As Bruce reaches greenhouse, he hesitates
and looks scared to enter
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Makes audience worry that something horrible is about to happen
to the children as it comes straight after bats scene
Prop itself represents war and fighting, setting key theme for
film; we expect this to be a recurring symbol in film
Highlights key symbol of power; represents idea that Batman will
be able to combat evil by ‘shining’ even in darkness
Camera shoots across garden scene going
so fast it is blurred
Moment Bruce falls he looks across bottom
of well and camera moves towards the dark
hole he looking into
High-angle shot to top of well

Screeching and flapping of bats
Quiet but continual beat which gets louder
as Bruce falls into well; goes quiet as he
looks into darkness then suddenly goes loud
as bats fly at him; Bruce is frantic then it
stops as abruptly as it started
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Actors and costumes
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Camera shots and camera
angles
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Music and sound effects
Striking moments
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Represents long journey he will have to endure before he
overcomes his fears and becomes a hero
Helps audience to identify with characters and relate to situation
Shows us he is fallible and is a typical, scared child who does not
rush into potentially dangerous situations; also shows us that he
has a lot to learn before he becomes an infallible hero
Brings audience into action and makes us feel like we are running
with the characters
Puts us into Bruce’s position; shows how scared he is of darkness
and makes us fear what we are about to see
Represents how far he has fallen and the long journey is about to
embark upon
Sets tone of fear and panic
Continual beat sets suspense of situation; audience made to jump
as sound goes from silent to loud; abrupt end to noise as camera
jumps to adult Bruce shows us that this was a dream from which
he has just woken
Mise-en-Scene
Element of mise-en-scene
Striking moments
What this signifies
POINT
EVIDENCE
EXPLANATION
Scenery, setting and props


Lighting


Actors and costumes


Camera shots and camera
angles


Music and sound effects

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