Baby Review: A Sharp Portrait of Queer Brazilian Survivors Lost in the System

Evoking the urban restlessness and dynamic spirit of São Paulo, director Marcelo Caetano's bracing drama centres on those who live on the fringes of an perpetually shifting metropolis. Fresh out of juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (the actor João Pedro Mariano) stands at a pivotal juncture; left behind by his parents, the innocent young man finds solace in the arms of others.

On an night on the town with his lively group of gay and non-binary friends, Wellington crosses paths with Ronaldo (Ricardo Teodoro), a hunky, charismatic hustler more than twice his age. Shrouded in the pulsating light of a neon-lit porn cinema, their introductory rendezvous is sensuous and erotic, with an tinge of peril. Ronaldo promptly ushers Wellington to the clandestine realm of prostitution and narcotics trafficking.

A Study of Empathy Rather Than Sensationalism

The director portrays Wellington’s new life of crime with gentle sympathy rather than as a exploitative warning story. Now adopting the moniker Baby, he engages in his paid liaisons with brash fearlessness and poignant gullibility. To his customers, Wellington provides not just his youth and his body, but also instances of tenderness.

In the feverish excitement of São Paulo, teeming with busy lanes and vibrant storefronts, there’s a deep-seated solitude, as unmoored souls grasp at one another for momentary bliss.

"The city are riddled with risk, yet they are where they can forge familial bonds, too."

A Complicated Relationship of Affection and Power

Ronaldo is at once a romantic interest and a guardian-like mentor to Wellington, but their relationship is derailed by possessiveness and monetary insecurity. Threats from shady figures in the criminal underworld seem minor next to the anxiety about government monitoring and imprisonment, symbolized by the hovering figures of police officers in the area.

Baby is particularly impactful as a keen observation of the forgotten souls who have slipped through the gaps the established structure. The film stands as a poignant examination into making ends meet, chosen family, and the search for purpose within a harsh urban landscape.