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

Channelling the city's relentless energy and dynamic spirit of São Paulo, director Marcelo Caetano's gripping drama zooms in on those who inhabit the outskirts of an ever-changing metropolis. Fresh out of juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (the actor João Pedro Mariano) stands at a pivotal juncture; deserted by his parents, the impressionable young man discovers refuge in the arms of others.

On an night on the town with his boisterous group of queer and non-binary friends, Wellington encounters Ronaldo (actor Ricardo Teodoro), a muscular, charming hustler significantly older than his age. Illuminated by the pulsating light of a adult movie theater, their first meeting is sensuous and erotic, with an hint of risk. Ronaldo promptly ushers Wellington to the shadowy world of sex work and selling drugs.

A Study of Empathy Instead of Exploitation

The director portrays Wellington’s new life of crime with compassionate understanding instead of as a sensationalist cautionary tale. Now adopting the moniker Baby, he enters his commercial trysts with brash fearlessness and endearing innocence. To his customers, Wellington offers more than his youth and his body, but also instances of tenderness.

In the feverish excitement of São Paulo, filled with crowded backstreets and vibrant storefronts, there’s a persistent isolation, as unmoored souls hold fast to one another for momentary bliss.

"The city might be fraught with peril, yet they are the place where they can discover chosen kin, too."

A Complex Dynamic of Love and Control

Ronaldo is both a lover and a sheltering paternal presence to Wellington, but their bond is sabotaged by possessiveness and financial instability. Dangers posed by dubious individuals in the underworld pale in comparison to the fear of institutional observation and jail time, epitomized by the constant sight of police officers in the area.

Baby is most powerful as a keen observation of the lost people who have been failed by the social system. The film ultimately serves as a heartfelt exploration into resilience, chosen family, and the pursuit of purpose within a demanding urban landscape.