Baby Review: An Astute Portrait of Queer Brazilian Survivors Adrift in the System

Capturing the city's relentless energy and vibrancy of São Paulo, Marcelo Caetano’s gripping drama centres on those who exist on the margins of an ever-changing metropolis. Recently released from juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (João Pedro Mariano) stands at a pivotal juncture; deserted by his parents, the impressionable young man finds solace in the arms of others.

On an night on the town with his lively group of LGBTQ+ and gender non-conforming friends, Wellington encounters Ronaldo (Ricardo Teodoro), a hunky, charismatic hustler over double his age. Illuminated by the flickering glow of a XXX cinema, their first meeting is sensuous and erotic, with an tinge of peril. Ronaldo swiftly initiates Wellington to the underground scene of the sex trade and drug dealing.

A Portrait of Understanding Instead of Exploitation

The director portrays Wellington’s new life of crime with tender empathy instead of as a sensationalist cautionary tale. Now going by the name of Baby, he approaches his transactional encounters with swaggering confidence and poignant gullibility. To his patrons, Wellington lends not only his youth and his body, but also fleeting acts of kindness.

In the electrifying chaos of São Paulo, filled with bustling alleyways and vibrant storefronts, there’s a persistent isolation, as adrift individuals hold fast to one another for temporary happiness.

"The streets might be filled with danger, yet they are also the space where they can find their own family, too."

A Complicated Relationship of Love and Control

Ronaldo is at once a romantic interest and a sheltering paternal presence to Wellington, but their bond is sabotaged by envy and economic precarity. Dangers posed by nefarious characters in the underworld pale in comparison to the dread of institutional observation and incarceration, symbolized by the constant sight of police officers in the area.

Baby is particularly impactful as a perceptive study of the disenfranchised individuals who have slipped through the gaps the system. The film ultimately serves as a poignant exploration into resilience, non-biological kinship, and the pursuit of purpose within a demanding urban landscape.