Baby Review: An Astute Depiction of Queer Brazilian Survivors Adrift in the Established Order

Evoking the metropolitan unease and pulsating life of São Paulo, Marcelo Caetano’s bracing drama focuses on those who exist on the margins of an perpetually shifting metropolis. Recently released from juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (João Pedro Mariano) stands at a pivotal juncture; deserted by his parents, the innocent young man finds solace in the arms of others.

On an late-night excursion with his lively group of gay and non-binary friends, Wellington meets Ronaldo (Ricardo Teodoro), a muscular, charming hustler significantly older than his age. Shrouded in the wavering neon of a adult movie theater, their introductory rendezvous is sensuous and erotic, with an hint of risk. Ronaldo swiftly initiates Wellington to the underground scene of sex work and narcotics trafficking.

A Study of Understanding Instead of Sensationalism

Caetano depicts Wellington’s new life of crime with gentle sympathy rather than 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 provides not just his youth and his body, but also fleeting acts of kindness.

In the electrifying chaos of São Paulo, teeming with busy lanes and vibrant storefronts, there’s a gnawing loneliness, as adrift individuals hold fast to one another for temporary happiness.

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

A Complex Dynamic of Love and Control

Ronaldo is at once a romantic interest and a sheltering paternal presence to Wellington, but their bond is sabotaged by jealousy and monetary insecurity. Intimidation from nefarious characters in the shadow economy seem minor next to the anxiety about state surveillance and incarceration, epitomized by the looming presence of police officers in the area.

Baby is most powerful as a perceptive study of the forgotten souls who have been failed by the social system. The film functions as a moving look into making ends meet, found community, and the quest for identity within a harsh urban landscape.