Baby Review: A Sharp Depiction of LGBTQ+ Brazilian Survivors Adrift in the System

Capturing the urban restlessness and dynamic spirit of São Paulo, Marcelo Caetano’s unflinching drama centres 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) stands at a pivotal juncture; left behind by his parents, the innocent young man discovers refuge in the arms of others.

On an evening out with his rowdy group of queer and non-binary friends, Wellington encounters Ronaldo (Ricardo Teodoro), a strapping, magnetic hustler over double his age. Illuminated by the wavering neon of a adult movie theater, their initial encounter is sensuous and erotic, with an tinge of peril. Ronaldo quickly introduces Wellington to the shadowy world of sex work and drug dealing.

A Portrait of Understanding Instead of Exploitation

The director portrays Wellington’s new life of crime with gentle sympathy instead of as a exploitative warning story. Now going by the name of Baby, he engages in his paid liaisons with brash fearlessness and endearing innocence. 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, teeming with crowded backstreets and colourful shopfronts, there’s a gnawing loneliness, as adrift individuals hold fast to one another for temporary happiness.

"The urban landscape are fraught with peril, yet they are where they can find their own family, too."

A Complicated Dynamic of Love and Control

Ronaldo is simultaneously a partner and a protective father figure to Wellington, but their relationship is derailed by jealousy and monetary insecurity. Threats from dubious individuals in the underworld seem minor next to the anxiety about government monitoring and jail time, epitomized by the constant sight of police officers making their rounds.

Baby is most powerful as a perceptive study of the forgotten souls who have been failed by the established structure. The film stands as a heartfelt exploration into survival, chosen family, and the pursuit of self within a demanding urban landscape.