The film argues that Bruce Wayne is not just a mask for Batman; both identities are essential and equally burdened by the mission. Production and Artistic Legacy
The film utilizes a non-linear structure, weaving flashbacks of Bruce Wayne’s early attempts at vigilantism with a modern-day mystery involving the "Phantasm," a lethal vigilante framing Batman for the murders of Gotham’s mob bosses.
A pivotal scene at his parents' grave shows Bruce begging to be released from his promise so he can marry Andrea Beaumont, admitting, "I didn't count on being happy".