Music and The Fictive Dream: "Ave Maria" in "The Batman" Ethan Bowser "Ave Maria". 1825, Franz Schubert, Austria. A few years ago, I sat down with my older sister to watch the movie "The Batman". It was one of the last movies we watched together. There were a number of things I enjoyed about the movie: the complex plot, the mystery at the heart of the film, and the characters. One of the odd things that struck me immediately as the film began was its use of classical music, particularly its recurring use of Franz Schubert's "Ave Maria"--a phenomenon that begins before the movie's first scene even opens. Biographical Information Franz Schubert wrote his "Ave Maria" while on vacation in upper Austria. It immediately became a hit throughout Europe. The song's title translates to "Hail Mary" in English, a prayer for supplication and help from Mary, mother of Jesus in the Christian faith. Schubert i...