The Film Baby Review: An Astute Depiction of Queer Brazilian Survivors Adrift in the System

Channelling the urban restlessness and vibrancy of São Paulo, director Marcelo Caetano's gripping drama focuses on those who inhabit the outskirts of an ever-changing metropolis. Fresh out of juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (the actor João Pedro Mariano) finds himself at a crossroads; left behind by his parents, the innocent young man seeks comfort in the arms of others.

On an late-night excursion with his boisterous group of LGBTQ+ and gender non-conforming friends, Wellington meets Ronaldo (Ricardo Teodoro), a muscular, charming hustler more than twice his age. Shrouded in the wavering neon of a adult movie theater, their initial encounter is intimate and charged, with an edge of danger. Ronaldo quickly introduces Wellington to the clandestine realm of prostitution and drug dealing.

A Study of Understanding Instead of Sensationalism

The film illustrates Wellington’s new life of crime with tender empathy rather than as a sensationalist cautionary tale. Now going by the name of Baby, he engages in his paid liaisons with brash fearlessness and poignant gullibility. To his clients, Wellington provides not just his youth and his body, but also instances of tenderness.

In the hectic energy of São Paulo, teeming with busy lanes and vibrant storefronts, there’s a persistent isolation, as unmoored souls hold fast to one another for momentary bliss.

"The streets can be fraught with peril, yet they are the place where they can discover chosen kin, too."

A Complicated Relationship of Affection and Power

Ronaldo is simultaneously a partner and a sheltering paternal presence to Wellington, but their relationship is derailed by envy and financial instability. Intimidation from shady figures in the underworld seem minor next to the anxiety about state surveillance and jail time, symbolized by the constant sight of police officers on patrol.

Baby is most powerful as an astute portrait of the forgotten souls who have fallen through the cracks the system. The film stands as a heartfelt look into survival, non-biological kinship, and the pursuit of purpose within a harsh urban landscape.