Baby Review: An Astute Portrait of Queer Brazilian Survivors Adrift in the System
Channelling the metropolitan unease and dynamic spirit of São Paulo, filmmaker Caetano's gripping drama zooms in on those who inhabit the outskirts of an ever-changing metropolis. Recently released from juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (João Pedro Mariano) finds himself at a crossroads; abandoned by his parents, the wide-eyed young man discovers refuge in the arms of others.
On an night on the town with his rowdy group of LGBTQ+ and gender non-conforming friends, Wellington encounters Ronaldo (actor Ricardo Teodoro), a strapping, magnetic hustler over double his age. Shrouded in the pulsating light of a neon-lit porn cinema, their introductory rendezvous is physical and passionate, with an edge of danger. Ronaldo quickly introduces Wellington to the underground scene of prostitution and selling drugs.
A Study of Empathy Rather Than Sensationalism
The director portrays Wellington’s new life of crime with gentle sympathy rather than as a melodramatic morality play. Now adopting the moniker Baby, he engages in his paid liaisons with cocky bravado and touching naivety. 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, filled with busy lanes and colourful shopfronts, there’s a persistent isolation, as adrift individuals grasp at one another for temporary happiness.
"The city might be filled with danger, yet they are where they can discover chosen kin, too."
A Complex Dynamic of Love and Control
Ronaldo is at once a romantic interest and a guardian-like mentor to Wellington, but their connection is thrown off course by jealousy and monetary insecurity. Dangers posed by nefarious characters in the underworld seem minor next to the fear of state surveillance and imprisonment, represented by the constant sight of police officers in the area.
Baby is especially potent as a perceptive study of the forgotten souls who have slipped through the gaps the social system. The film functions as a heartfelt look into making ends meet, found community, and the pursuit of identity within a demanding urban landscape.
