Mise-en-Scene in opening scene of Batman Begins

Element of Mise-en-Scene
POINT / Striking moments
EVIDENCE / What this signifies
EXPLANATION
Scenery, setting and props / ·  Opening scene – hundreds of bats flying in dark sky
·  Children running excitedly through gardens
·  Spear-head that children argue over / ·  Setting sinister tone to scare and thrill audience
·  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
Lighting / ·  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 / ·  Highlights key symbol of power; represents idea that Batman will be able to combat evil by ‘shining’ even in darkness
·  Represents long journey he will have to endure before he overcomes his fears and becomes a hero
Actors and costumes / ·  Children dressed in contemporary clothing
·  As Bruce reaches greenhouse, he hesitates and looks scared to enter / ·  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
Camera shots and camera angles / ·  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 / ·  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
Music and sound effects / ·  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 / ·  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
POINT / Striking moments
EVIDENCE / What this signifies
EXPLANATION
Scenery, setting and props / ·  / · 
Lighting / ·  / · 
Actors and costumes / ·  / · 
Camera shots and camera angles / ·  / · 
Music and sound effects / ·  / ·