The Film Baby Review: An Astute Depiction of LGBTQ+ Brazilian Hustlers Lost in the System

Capturing the city's relentless energy and vibrancy of São Paulo, Marcelo Caetano’s unflinching drama centres on those who exist on the margins of an constantly evolving 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 wide-eyed young man discovers refuge in the arms of others.

On an late-night excursion with his rowdy group of queer and non-binary friends, Wellington encounters Ronaldo (actor Ricardo Teodoro), a muscular, charming hustler significantly older than his age. Shrouded in the flickering glow of a adult movie theater, their initial encounter is intimate and charged, with an hint of risk. Ronaldo promptly ushers Wellington to the underground scene of the sex trade and drug dealing.

A Portrait of Understanding Instead of Exploitation

Caetano depicts Wellington’s new life of crime with compassionate understanding instead of as a melodramatic morality play. Now adopting the moniker Baby, he approaches his transactional encounters with cocky bravado and touching naivety. To his customers, Wellington offers more than his youth and his body, but also instances of tenderness.

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

"The streets are riddled with risk, yet they are also the space where they can discover chosen kin, too."

A Complicated Dynamic of Love and Control

Ronaldo is both a lover and a sheltering paternal presence to Wellington, but their connection is thrown off course by envy and monetary insecurity. Intimidation from dubious individuals in the underworld pale in comparison to the dread of institutional observation and jail time, represented by the constant sight of police officers on patrol.

Baby is most powerful as an astute portrait of the forgotten souls who have fallen through the cracks the established structure. The film functions as a moving exploration into resilience, chosen family, and the search for identity within a harsh urban landscape.