The Film Baby Review: An Astute Portrait of Queer Brazilian Hustlers Adrift in the System
Capturing the metropolitan unease and vibrancy of São Paulo, director Marcelo Caetano's gripping drama centres on those who inhabit the outskirts of an perpetually shifting metropolis. Newly freed from juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (the actor João Pedro Mariano) faces a critical turning point; abandoned by his parents, the innocent young man finds solace 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 (Ricardo Teodoro), a hunky, charismatic hustler more than twice his age. Shrouded in the flickering glow of a neon-lit porn cinema, their first meeting is sensuous and erotic, with an hint of risk. Ronaldo swiftly initiates Wellington to the shadowy world of the sex trade and selling drugs.
A Portrait of Empathy Instead of Sensationalism
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 enters his commercial trysts with brash fearlessness and endearing innocence. To his clients, Wellington provides not just his youth and his body, but also moments of care.
In the feverish excitement of São Paulo, filled with bustling alleyways and colourful shopfronts, there’s a deep-seated solitude, as rootless people cling on to one another for temporary happiness.
"The streets are filled with danger, yet they are the place where they can forge familial bonds, too."
A Complicated Relationship of Love and Control
Ronaldo is both a lover and a guardian-like mentor to Wellington, but their bond is sabotaged by jealousy and monetary insecurity. Threats from shady figures in the criminal underworld are overshadowed by the dread of institutional observation and incarceration, represented by the hovering figures of police officers in the area.
Baby is especially potent as a perceptive study of the disenfranchised individuals who have been failed by the social system. The film ultimately serves as a poignant look into survival, non-biological kinship, and the pursuit of purpose within a demanding urban landscape.
