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

Capturing the urban restlessness and dynamic spirit of São Paulo, Marcelo Caetano’s unflinching drama zooms in on those who exist on the margins of an ever-changing metropolis. Recently released from juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (the actor João Pedro Mariano) faces a critical turning point; 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 boisterous group of LGBTQ+ and gender non-conforming friends, Wellington meets Ronaldo (Ricardo Teodoro), a muscular, charming hustler over double his age. Bathed in the wavering neon of a neon-lit porn cinema, their initial encounter is sensuous and erotic, with an tinge of peril. Ronaldo promptly ushers Wellington to the shadowy world of sex work and selling drugs.

A Portrait of Empathy Instead of Sensationalism

Caetano depicts Wellington’s new life of crime with tender empathy as opposed to as a melodramatic morality play. Now going by the name of Baby, he approaches his transactional encounters with swaggering confidence and touching naivety. To his clients, Wellington lends not only his youth and his body, but also instances of tenderness.

In the electrifying chaos of São Paulo, teeming with crowded backstreets and vibrant storefronts, there’s a persistent isolation, as unmoored souls cling on to one another for momentary bliss.

"The streets can be filled with danger, yet they are also the space where they can forge familial bonds, too."

A Complicated Relationship of Affection and Power

Ronaldo is both a lover and a protective father figure to Wellington, but their relationship is derailed by possessiveness and monetary insecurity. Dangers posed by dubious individuals in the criminal underworld pale in comparison to the anxiety about government monitoring and jail time, symbolized by the looming presence of police officers on patrol.

Baby is most powerful as an astute portrait of the forgotten souls who have fallen through the cracks the system. The film stands as a heartfelt look into survival, found community, and the search for self within a unforgiving urban landscape.