The Film Baby Review: A Sharp Portrait of LGBTQ+ Brazilian Survivors Lost in the System
Capturing the urban restlessness and dynamic spirit of São Paulo, director Marcelo Caetano's gripping drama centres on those who inhabit the outskirts of an constantly evolving metropolis. Newly freed from juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (the actor João Pedro Mariano) stands at a pivotal juncture; left behind by his parents, the innocent young man discovers refuge in the arms of others.
On an late-night excursion with his boisterous group of queer and non-binary friends, Wellington crosses paths with Ronaldo (actor Ricardo Teodoro), a muscular, charming hustler significantly older than his age. Bathed in the flickering glow of a adult movie theater, their first meeting is physical and passionate, with an hint of risk. Ronaldo quickly introduces Wellington to the shadowy world of sex work and narcotics trafficking.
A Portrait of Empathy Instead of Exploitation
Caetano depicts Wellington’s new life of crime with compassionate understanding rather than as a sensationalist cautionary tale. Now adopting the moniker Baby, he enters his commercial trysts with brash fearlessness and endearing innocence. To his patrons, Wellington offers more than his youth and his body, but also moments of care.
In the feverish excitement of São Paulo, teeming with busy lanes and vibrant storefronts, there’s a gnawing loneliness, as unmoored souls grasp at one another for temporary happiness.
"The city might be riddled with risk, yet they are also the space where they can forge familial bonds, too."
A Complicated Dynamic of Affection and Power
Ronaldo is both a lover and a sheltering paternal presence to Wellington, but their relationship is derailed by jealousy and economic precarity. Threats from shady figures in the criminal underworld are overshadowed by the dread of government monitoring and incarceration, represented by the hovering figures of police officers in the area.
Baby is most powerful as an astute portrait of the disenfranchised individuals who have been failed by the social system. The film stands as a moving exploration into survival, chosen family, and the search for self within a harsh urban landscape.
