Baby Review: An Astute Portrait of LGBTQ+ Brazilian Survivors Lost in the Established Order

Channelling 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 (João Pedro Mariano) stands at a pivotal juncture; abandoned by his parents, the wide-eyed young man discovers refuge in the arms of others.

On an late-night excursion with his lively group of gay and non-binary friends, Wellington crosses paths with Ronaldo (Ricardo Teodoro), a strapping, magnetic hustler significantly older than his age. Shrouded in the wavering neon of a XXX cinema, their first meeting is physical and passionate, with an hint of risk. Ronaldo promptly ushers Wellington to the underground scene of sex work and narcotics trafficking.

A Study of Understanding Rather Than Exploitation

The film illustrates Wellington’s new life of crime with compassionate understanding instead of as a melodramatic morality play. Now going by the name of Baby, he engages in his paid liaisons with swaggering confidence and endearing innocence. To his customers, Wellington provides not just his youth and his body, but also moments of care.

In the feverish excitement of São Paulo, overflowing with bustling alleyways and vibrant storefronts, there’s a deep-seated solitude, as unmoored souls cling on to one another for momentary bliss.

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

A Complicated Relationship of Love and Control

Ronaldo is simultaneously a partner and a sheltering paternal presence to Wellington, but their bond is sabotaged by envy and economic precarity. Threats from dubious individuals in the shadow economy are overshadowed by the fear of government monitoring and incarceration, represented by the hovering figures of police officers on patrol.

Baby is most powerful as a keen observation of the forgotten souls who have fallen through the cracks the social system. The film functions as a poignant examination into making ends meet, chosen family, and the quest for self within a demanding urban landscape.