The Film Baby Review: An Astute Depiction of LGBTQ+ Brazilian Hustlers Adrift in the Established Order

Evoking the urban restlessness and vibrancy of São Paulo, director Marcelo Caetano's gripping drama zooms in on those who live on the fringes of an constantly evolving metropolis. Recently released from juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (the actor João Pedro Mariano) stands at a pivotal juncture; abandoned by his parents, the innocent young man seeks comfort in the arms of others.

On an night on the town with his lively group of gay and non-binary friends, Wellington crosses paths with Ronaldo (actor Ricardo Teodoro), a hunky, charismatic hustler over double his age. Illuminated by the flickering glow of a XXX cinema, their introductory rendezvous is sensuous and erotic, with an tinge of peril. Ronaldo swiftly initiates Wellington to the clandestine realm of sex work and selling drugs.

A Study of Understanding Instead of Exploitation

Caetano depicts Wellington’s new life of crime with gentle sympathy rather than as a sensationalist cautionary tale. Now using the alias Baby, he engages in his paid liaisons with brash fearlessness and poignant gullibility. To his customers, Wellington offers more than his youth and his body, but also moments of care.

In the hectic energy of São Paulo, overflowing with busy lanes and brightly painted facades, there’s a deep-seated solitude, as rootless people hold fast to one another for temporary happiness.

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

A Complicated Relationship of Affection and Power

Ronaldo is simultaneously a partner and a guardian-like mentor to Wellington, but their connection is thrown off course by jealousy and economic precarity. Intimidation from dubious individuals in the shadow economy pale in comparison to the dread of government monitoring and jail time, epitomized by the looming presence of police officers on patrol.

Baby is most powerful as an astute portrait of the disenfranchised individuals who have been failed by the social system. The film functions as a heartfelt exploration into survival, non-biological kinship, and the pursuit of purpose within a unforgiving urban landscape.