Baby Review: An Astute Depiction of Queer Brazilian Survivors Adrift in the System
Capturing the city's relentless energy and dynamic spirit of São Paulo, Marcelo Caetano’s unflinching drama focuses on those who exist on the margins of an perpetually shifting metropolis. Recently released 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 seeks comfort in the arms of others.
On an night on the town with his rowdy group of LGBTQ+ and gender non-conforming friends, Wellington encounters Ronaldo (Ricardo Teodoro), a strapping, magnetic hustler significantly older than his age. Illuminated by the wavering neon of a neon-lit porn cinema, their introductory rendezvous is physical and passionate, with an tinge of peril. Ronaldo quickly introduces Wellington to the underground scene of sex work and selling drugs.
A Portrait of Understanding Instead of Exploitation
The director portrays Wellington’s new life of crime with gentle sympathy rather than as a melodramatic morality play. Now going by the name of Baby, he engages in his paid liaisons with swaggering confidence and touching naivety. To his customers, Wellington lends not only his youth and his body, but also moments of care.
In the feverish excitement of São Paulo, overflowing with crowded backstreets and colourful shopfronts, there’s a deep-seated solitude, as rootless people cling on to one another for momentary bliss.
"The city might be riddled with risk, yet they are also the space where they can find their own family, too."
A Complex Dynamic of Affection and Power
Ronaldo is at once a romantic interest and a sheltering paternal presence to Wellington, but their relationship is derailed by possessiveness and economic precarity. Threats from dubious individuals in the criminal underworld pale in comparison to the fear of state surveillance and imprisonment, represented by the looming presence of police officers in the area.
Baby is most powerful as a perceptive study of the lost people who have slipped through the gaps the system. The film ultimately serves as a poignant examination into resilience, found community, and the pursuit of purpose within a demanding urban landscape.
