The Film Baby Review: An Astute Portrait of Queer Brazilian Survivors Lost in the System

Capturing the city's relentless energy and pulsating life of São Paulo, Marcelo Caetano’s gripping drama focuses on those who live on the fringes of an ever-changing metropolis. Fresh out of 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 evening out with his boisterous group of LGBTQ+ and gender non-conforming friends, Wellington crosses paths with Ronaldo (actor Ricardo Teodoro), a strapping, magnetic hustler over double his age. Illuminated by the wavering neon of a adult movie theater, their initial encounter is physical and passionate, with an tinge of peril. Ronaldo swiftly initiates Wellington to the underground scene of prostitution and selling drugs.

A Study of Empathy Rather Than Sensationalism

Caetano depicts Wellington’s new life of crime with compassionate understanding instead of as a sensationalist cautionary tale. Now going by the name of Baby, he engages in his paid liaisons with swaggering confidence and endearing innocence. To his customers, Wellington offers more than his youth and his body, but also fleeting acts of kindness.

In the hectic energy of São Paulo, teeming with busy lanes and vibrant storefronts, there’s a gnawing loneliness, as rootless people grasp at one another for temporary happiness.

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

A Complex Dynamic of Affection and Power

Ronaldo is simultaneously a partner and a sheltering paternal presence to Wellington, but their connection is thrown off course by jealousy and financial instability. Threats from dubious individuals in the underworld seem minor next to the dread of institutional observation and incarceration, symbolized by the looming presence of police officers on patrol.

Baby is particularly impactful as a keen observation of the disenfranchised individuals who have been failed by the established structure. The film ultimately serves as a moving look into resilience, found community, and the search for self within a harsh urban landscape.