The Film Baby Review: A Sharp Portrait of LGBTQ+ Brazilian Hustlers Adrift in the System

Capturing the urban restlessness and vibrancy of São Paulo, Marcelo Caetano’s bracing drama focuses on those who inhabit the outskirts of an ever-changing metropolis. Newly freed from 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 evening out with his rowdy group of queer and non-binary friends, Wellington crosses paths with Ronaldo (actor Ricardo Teodoro), a hunky, charismatic hustler significantly older than his age. Bathed in the wavering neon of a adult movie theater, their first meeting is physical and passionate, with an edge of danger. Ronaldo promptly ushers Wellington to the underground scene of prostitution and drug dealing.

A Portrait of Empathy Instead of Sensationalism

The director portrays Wellington’s new life of crime with compassionate understanding as opposed to as a exploitative warning story. Now using the alias Baby, he enters his commercial trysts with swaggering confidence and poignant gullibility. To his patrons, Wellington offers more than his youth and his body, but also fleeting acts of kindness.

In the electrifying chaos of São Paulo, teeming with crowded backstreets and colourful shopfronts, there’s a deep-seated solitude, as adrift individuals hold fast to one another for momentary bliss.

"The urban landscape can be filled with danger, yet they are the place where they can find their own family, too."

A Complex Relationship of Affection and Power

Ronaldo is both a lover and a protective father figure to Wellington, but their bond is sabotaged by envy and financial instability. Dangers posed by nefarious characters in the criminal underworld pale in comparison to the dread of government monitoring and incarceration, represented by the constant sight of police officers on patrol.

Baby is particularly impactful as an astute portrait of the disenfranchised individuals who have slipped through the gaps the system. The film stands as a moving examination into resilience, found community, and the search for identity within a harsh urban landscape.