Baby Review: An Astute Portrait of LGBTQ+ Brazilian Survivors Adrift in the System
Evoking the city's relentless energy and vibrancy of São Paulo, director Marcelo Caetano's gripping drama centres on those who exist on the margins of an constantly evolving 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 late-night excursion with his rowdy group of gay and non-binary friends, Wellington crosses paths with Ronaldo (Ricardo Teodoro), a muscular, charming hustler over double his age. Bathed in the wavering neon of a adult movie theater, their first meeting is physical and passionate, with an hint of risk. Ronaldo promptly ushers Wellington to the clandestine realm of prostitution and drug dealing.
A Portrait of Understanding Rather Than Exploitation
Caetano depicts Wellington’s new life of crime with gentle sympathy instead of as a sensationalist cautionary tale. Now adopting the moniker Baby, he approaches his transactional encounters with brash fearlessness and touching naivety. To his patrons, Wellington provides not just his youth and his body, but also fleeting acts of kindness.
In the electrifying chaos of São Paulo, overflowing with busy lanes and vibrant storefronts, there’s a gnawing loneliness, as unmoored souls hold fast to one another for fleeting joy.
"The city can be riddled with risk, yet they are also the space where they can discover chosen kin, too."
A Complicated Dynamic of Affection and Power
Ronaldo is at once a romantic interest and a protective father figure to Wellington, but their connection is thrown off course by envy and financial instability. Threats from shady figures in the underworld are overshadowed by the dread of institutional observation and incarceration, epitomized by the constant sight of police officers in the area.
Baby is most powerful as a keen observation of the forgotten souls who have slipped through the gaps the established structure. The film functions as a moving exploration into making ends meet, chosen family, and the quest for self within a demanding urban landscape.
