Baby Review: An Astute Depiction of Queer Brazilian Survivors Lost in the Established Order

Capturing the metropolitan unease and vibrancy of São Paulo, director Marcelo Caetano's gripping drama zooms in on those who exist on the margins of an ever-changing metropolis. Fresh out of juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (João Pedro Mariano) stands at a pivotal juncture; deserted 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 (Ricardo Teodoro), a muscular, charming hustler over double his age. Illuminated by the wavering neon of a XXX cinema, their introductory rendezvous is sensuous and erotic, with an hint of risk. Ronaldo promptly ushers Wellington to the clandestine realm of prostitution and drug dealing.

A Portrait of Understanding Instead of Exploitation

The film illustrates Wellington’s new life of crime with compassionate understanding instead of as a exploitative warning story. Now going by the name of Baby, he approaches his transactional encounters with brash fearlessness and touching naivety. To his customers, Wellington provides not just his youth and his body, but also fleeting acts of kindness.

In the hectic energy of São Paulo, filled with crowded backstreets and brightly painted facades, there’s a persistent isolation, as unmoored souls cling on to one another for temporary happiness.

"The urban landscape can be filled with danger, yet they are also the space where they can discover chosen kin, too."

A Complicated Dynamic of Love and Control

Ronaldo is at once a romantic interest and a guardian-like mentor to Wellington, but their relationship is derailed by envy and financial instability. Intimidation from shady figures in the underworld are overshadowed by the anxiety about state surveillance and imprisonment, symbolized by the looming presence of police officers making their rounds.

Baby is particularly impactful as a perceptive study of the forgotten souls who have fallen through the cracks the social system. The film stands as a poignant examination into survival, non-biological kinship, and the search for self within a harsh urban landscape.