The Film Baby Review: An Astute Depiction of LGBTQ+ Brazilian Hustlers Adrift in the System

Channelling the urban restlessness and dynamic spirit 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) faces a critical turning point; abandoned by his parents, the innocent young man seeks comfort in the arms of others.

On an late-night excursion with his rowdy group of queer and non-binary friends, Wellington meets Ronaldo (actor Ricardo Teodoro), a muscular, charming hustler significantly older than his age. Shrouded in the flickering glow of a neon-lit porn cinema, their first meeting is physical and passionate, with an tinge of peril. Ronaldo quickly introduces Wellington to the shadowy world of sex work and selling drugs.

A Portrait of Empathy Instead of Exploitation

The film illustrates Wellington’s new life of crime with compassionate understanding instead of as a sensationalist cautionary tale. Now using the alias Baby, he approaches his transactional encounters with cocky bravado and touching naivety. To his clients, Wellington lends not only his youth and his body, but also fleeting acts of kindness.

In the feverish excitement of São Paulo, overflowing with busy lanes and brightly painted facades, there’s a gnawing loneliness, as unmoored souls grasp at one another for fleeting joy.

"The streets can be fraught with peril, yet they are the place where they can forge familial bonds, too."

A Complex Relationship of Affection and Power

Ronaldo is both a lover and a sheltering paternal presence to Wellington, but their bond is sabotaged by possessiveness and financial instability. Intimidation from nefarious characters in the shadow economy are overshadowed by the anxiety about government monitoring and jail time, symbolized by the looming presence of police officers in the area.

Baby is most powerful as a keen observation of the disenfranchised individuals who have been failed by the social system. The film stands as a moving exploration into making ends meet, found community, and the search for self within a harsh urban landscape.