The Film Baby Review: A Sharp Depiction of Queer Brazilian Survivors Adrift in the System

Evoking the city's relentless energy and dynamic spirit of São Paulo, director Marcelo Caetano's unflinching drama zooms in on those who live on the fringes of an ever-changing 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 wide-eyed 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 (actor Ricardo Teodoro), a hunky, charismatic hustler over double his age. Illuminated by the pulsating light of a neon-lit porn cinema, their introductory rendezvous is physical and passionate, with an edge of danger. Ronaldo quickly introduces Wellington to the shadowy world of the sex trade and selling drugs.

A Study of Empathy Rather Than Sensationalism

The director portrays 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 swaggering confidence and touching naivety. To his customers, Wellington offers more than his youth and his body, but also instances of tenderness.

In the feverish excitement of São Paulo, teeming with bustling alleyways and vibrant storefronts, there’s a deep-seated solitude, as unmoored souls hold fast to one another for fleeting joy.

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

A Complicated Relationship of Affection and Power

Ronaldo is at once a romantic interest and a protective father figure to Wellington, but their connection is thrown off course by envy and monetary insecurity. Intimidation from nefarious characters in the criminal underworld are overshadowed by the dread of institutional observation and incarceration, represented by the looming presence of police officers in the area.

Baby is especially potent as an astute portrait of the lost people who have fallen through the cracks the system. The film stands as a heartfelt look into resilience, non-biological kinship, and the search for self within a demanding urban landscape.