The Film Baby Review: A Sharp Depiction of Queer Brazilian Survivors Adrift in the Established Order

Evoking the city's relentless energy and vibrancy of São Paulo, director Marcelo Caetano's gripping drama zooms in on those who exist on the margins of an perpetually shifting metropolis. Fresh out of juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (João Pedro Mariano) faces a critical turning point; deserted by his parents, the innocent young man discovers refuge in the arms of others.

On an evening out with his boisterous group of gay and non-binary friends, Wellington crosses paths with Ronaldo (Ricardo Teodoro), a strapping, magnetic hustler more than twice his age. Bathed in the pulsating light of a neon-lit porn cinema, their initial encounter is intimate and charged, with an tinge of peril. Ronaldo quickly introduces Wellington to the clandestine realm of the sex trade and selling drugs.

A Study of Empathy Instead of Sensationalism

The director portrays Wellington’s new life of crime with tender empathy rather than as a sensationalist cautionary tale. Now going by the name of Baby, he enters his commercial trysts with swaggering confidence and poignant gullibility. To his clients, Wellington lends not only his youth and his body, but also moments of care.

In the electrifying chaos of São Paulo, filled with crowded backstreets and brightly painted facades, there’s a persistent isolation, as adrift individuals hold fast to one another for fleeting joy.

"The city are filled with danger, yet they are where they can discover chosen kin, too."

A Complex Relationship of Affection and Power

Ronaldo is simultaneously a partner and a guardian-like mentor to Wellington, but their relationship is derailed by envy and financial instability. Dangers posed by shady figures in the criminal underworld pale in comparison to the anxiety about institutional observation and jail time, symbolized by the constant sight of police officers in the area.

Baby is especially potent as a keen observation of the forgotten souls who have fallen through the cracks the system. The film ultimately serves as a poignant examination into resilience, found community, and the quest for identity within a harsh urban landscape.