Baby Review: A Sharp Portrait of Queer Brazilian Survivors Lost in the Established Order
Capturing the urban restlessness and pulsating life of São Paulo, filmmaker Caetano's unflinching drama focuses on those who exist on the margins of an ever-changing metropolis. Newly freed from juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (João Pedro Mariano) finds himself at a crossroads; left behind by his parents, the wide-eyed young man finds solace in the arms of others.
On an night on the town with his boisterous group of gay and non-binary friends, Wellington crosses paths with Ronaldo (Ricardo Teodoro), a muscular, charming hustler more than twice his age. Bathed in the flickering glow of a adult movie theater, their first meeting is intimate and charged, with an hint of risk. Ronaldo promptly ushers Wellington to the shadowy world of the sex trade and selling drugs.
A Study of Empathy Instead of Sensationalism
The film illustrates Wellington’s new life of crime with gentle sympathy rather than as a exploitative warning story. Now going by the name of Baby, he enters his commercial trysts with cocky bravado and poignant gullibility. To his patrons, Wellington offers more than his youth and his body, but also fleeting acts of kindness.
In the electrifying chaos of São Paulo, filled with busy lanes and vibrant storefronts, there’s a gnawing loneliness, as rootless people cling on to one another for momentary bliss.
"The city can be fraught with peril, yet they are where they can find their own family, too."
A Complicated Relationship of Affection and Power
Ronaldo is at once a romantic interest and a protective father figure to Wellington, but their connection is thrown off course by envy and financial instability. Intimidation from shady figures in the criminal underworld pale in comparison to the anxiety about government monitoring and incarceration, epitomized by the looming presence of police officers making their rounds.
Baby is most powerful as a keen observation of the forgotten souls who have slipped through the gaps the system. The film ultimately serves as a heartfelt look into making ends meet, found community, and the pursuit of self within a demanding urban landscape.
