The Film Baby Review: A Sharp Depiction of LGBTQ+ Brazilian Hustlers Lost in the System
Capturing the city's relentless energy and vibrancy of São Paulo, Marcelo Caetano’s bracing drama centres on those who inhabit the outskirts of an constantly evolving metropolis. Newly freed from juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (João Pedro Mariano) finds himself at a crossroads; deserted by his parents, the innocent young man seeks comfort in the arms of others.
On an late-night excursion with his rowdy group of gay and non-binary friends, Wellington crosses paths with Ronaldo (actor Ricardo Teodoro), a strapping, magnetic hustler over double his age. Illuminated by the wavering neon of a XXX cinema, their initial encounter is sensuous and erotic, with an hint of risk. Ronaldo swiftly initiates Wellington to the clandestine realm of the sex trade and narcotics trafficking.
A Portrait of Empathy Rather Than Exploitation
The film illustrates Wellington’s new life of crime with compassionate understanding rather than as a sensationalist cautionary tale. Now adopting the moniker Baby, he engages in his paid liaisons with swaggering confidence and touching naivety. To his customers, Wellington provides not just his youth and his body, but also instances of tenderness.
In the feverish excitement of São Paulo, filled with bustling alleyways and vibrant storefronts, there’s a deep-seated solitude, as unmoored souls grasp at one another for fleeting joy.
"The city might be filled with danger, yet they are the place where they can forge familial bonds, too."
A Complicated Relationship of Love and Control
Ronaldo is simultaneously a partner and a sheltering paternal presence to Wellington, but their bond is sabotaged by jealousy and economic precarity. Intimidation from shady figures in the underworld seem minor next to the dread of state surveillance and imprisonment, symbolized by the looming presence of police officers in the area.
Baby is especially potent as an astute portrait of the forgotten souls who have fallen through the cracks the established structure. The film ultimately serves as a heartfelt examination into resilience, chosen family, and the pursuit of purpose within a unforgiving urban landscape.
