The mise-en-scene in the opening scene of Batman Begins establishes a sense of calm security through the use of a garden setting surrounded by greenhouses, children playing, and bright lighting. However, this sense of security is disrupted when the lighting dims as the children enter a greenhouse, foreshadowing that something bad may happen. The young actors' everyday clothing contrasts with the grandeur of the mansion setting, confusing expectations. A variety of shots including establishing shots, long shots, and close-ups are used to first create a false sense of security before increasing suspense through the diegetic sounds of children and non-diegetic dramatic music.

1. Mise-en-scene analysis for Batman
The scenery,settingandpropsare usedinBatmanBeginsinthe openingasit issetin a huge garden
and issurroundedbygreenhousesandplants.Atthe verystart the audience see the children
runningandthe girl isrunningwithsomethinginherhand.The mise-en-scene usedishere isto
associate the gardenandpickingupvariousitemswithchildren.Thiswouldmake the audiencethink
that whattheyare goingto watch will be verycalmandlaidback,thisisleadingthemtoa false sense
of security.
Secondly,the lightingisusedtogive contrastinthe scene.Leadingupto the boyfallingdowna hole
everythingseemsfineashighkeylightingisusedasthisusuallyconnotessafety,butasthe children
run intothe greenhouse the lightingdimsandthe iscreating the sense thatsomethingbadwill
happen- butitdoesn’t.The lightingthenbrightensagainoutside andthe youngboythensuddenly
dropsdowna hole,thatspecificchange inmusicleadthe audience intoasafetyblanketasthey
don’tassociate childrenbeinghurtsoit shocksthem.
The actors usedinthe filmare veryyoungagedaround 6-9, so theircostume will reflecttheirages.
Both of the childrenare wearingcasual moderndayclothinglinkingthe filmtothe moderndayera.
Alsobothcharacters clothingisveryformal whichsuggeststhese aren’tforplayingpurposesand
that theymusthave sneakedoff.The confusingthingaboutthisopeningisthattheircostumesare
everydayoutfitsthatdoesn’treflectthe type of house theylive inasyouwouldpresume thatthey
wouldbe smartlydressedandtheyaren’t.Thismakesthe audience questionthe intentionsof the
directorand wouldcouldlaterhappeninthe play.
A varietyof differentcameraangleshave beenusedtocreate thisfalse sense of security,the main
onesbeinglongshot,pointof viewshotsandestablishingshots.The verybeginningof the clipthere
isan establishingshotof the house andthisleadsthe audience towhytheywould be insucha big
house withnobodyaround.Havingthisshot givesthe audience the chance togettheirbearingsand
understand whatthe scenery will looklike.The secondshotisa longshotof the childrenrunning
thisshowshowthe filmrelatestochildren.The close upof the charactersallow the audience tose e
the facial expressionsthatmightgive anindicationtosomethingthatcouldhappen.
The music andsound in the openingcreatessuspense aswhenhe hasfallenwe stillknow that
somethingelseisgoingtohappenasthishappenedonthe cresandoof the musicknowingthat
somethinghastohappenafterit.The diegeticsoundsof the childrenscreaming/laughingaddtoit
beingrealisticandlinksitbacktothe youngcharacters.The non-diegeticsoundsof the soundtrack
setthe audience upforsomethingelse tohappenbecause the use of violinsandpianosare
conventionallyassociatedwiththriller/actions.