Analysis of an opening sequence

The film Batman Begins tells the story of how, through the trials of his childhood, Bruce Wayne becomes Batman. The beginning of the film shows the story of his childhood and mental formation.


We are first introduced to the main character when, after having played with a friend in his garden on the family estate, he falls on a small opening in the side of a well and, following a clatter, hundreds of bats come flying out of it, trapping him in their slapping wings. The size of Bruce Wayne’s mansion and its grounds is made to look huge to make the audience laugh.

The main setting of the film is in a garden. High key lighting is used to show clearly the natural surroundings on the sunny day. The setting contrasts what young Bruce likes to do during pastimes, showing the audience that he very much likes nature. By positioning Bruce and his friend together in the frame, the camera enables the audience the see what the children are wearing; everyday casual clothes meaning it is an ordinary day.

At the start of the film opening, there is a wave of houses in black and white. This device is used to create a flashback effect, giving the audience a clue that the main character is thinking back. As Bruce Wayne wakes up to a different setting, this scene represents the end of his childhood.

Sound effects such as the sound of bats are played in the start of the film opening, we see a large group of bats in low key lighting and with lots of shading within the frame as the music is played in the background. This is done to create a mysterious effect and also to show that the main character is associated with the bats. These sound effects are also played whilst Bruce Wayne is in the well to emphasise his traumatic experience with bats. The music played during the beginning of the film is fast rock-like music which contrasts with the action genre.

Top lighting is used to reflect the different types of shadow in the well whilst low key lighting is used to exaggerate the shadows. The camera shows us a low angle showing the full view of how the boy is positioned in the well.

We then see a close up of the boys face showing his facial expressions in detail. As a result of the fall in the well, Bruce Wayne is taken in at an asylum camp. Where we see the first scene of fast action. As a fight takes place the lighting remains high key for clear visible shots. The uniform the people in the camp are wearing shows that they are in some kind of camp, the uniform signifies prison life. The fight is significant in the Bruce Wayne’s role, showing that he has been reinvented as a superhero, who will fight against injustice.