Baby Review: A Sharp Depiction of LGBTQ+ Brazilian Survivors Lost in the Established Order

Evoking the urban restlessness and vibrancy of São Paulo, Marcelo Caetano’s gripping drama centres on those who inhabit the outskirts of an ever-changing metropolis. Recently released from juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (João Pedro Mariano) finds himself at a crossroads; abandoned by his parents, the impressionable 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 crosses paths with Ronaldo (Ricardo Teodoro), a hunky, charismatic hustler more than twice his age. Illuminated by the pulsating light of a neon-lit porn cinema, their first meeting is physical and passionate, with an edge of danger. Ronaldo swiftly initiates Wellington to the underground scene of sex work and narcotics trafficking.

A Portrait of Understanding Rather Than Sensationalism

Caetano depicts Wellington’s new life of crime with tender empathy as opposed to as a sensationalist cautionary tale. Now using the alias Baby, he enters his commercial trysts with brash fearlessness and endearing innocence. To his clients, Wellington lends not only his youth and his body, but also moments of care.

In the electrifying chaos of São Paulo, overflowing with bustling alleyways and brightly painted facades, there’s a deep-seated solitude, as adrift individuals cling on to one another for fleeting joy.

"The city are riddled with risk, yet they are also the space where they can find their own family, too."

A Complex Relationship of Love and Control

Ronaldo is at once a romantic interest and a sheltering paternal presence to Wellington, but their connection is thrown off course by possessiveness and economic precarity. Intimidation from nefarious characters in the criminal underworld are overshadowed by the fear of government monitoring and jail time, represented by the hovering figures of police officers on patrol.

Baby is especially potent as an astute portrait of the disenfranchised individuals who have slipped through the gaps the established structure. The film functions as a poignant examination into making ends meet, found community, and the quest for purpose within a demanding urban landscape.