Baby Review: An Astute Depiction of Queer Brazilian Hustlers Lost in the Established Order
Capturing the city's relentless energy and vibrancy of São Paulo, director Marcelo Caetano's gripping drama focuses on those who inhabit the outskirts of an constantly evolving metropolis. Fresh out of juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (João Pedro Mariano) faces a critical turning point; 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 queer and non-binary friends, Wellington crosses paths with Ronaldo (actor Ricardo Teodoro), a muscular, charming hustler more than twice his age. Bathed in the wavering neon of a XXX cinema, their introductory rendezvous is sensuous and erotic, with an edge of danger. Ronaldo promptly ushers Wellington to the underground scene of prostitution and drug dealing.
A Portrait of Empathy Instead of Sensationalism
The film illustrates Wellington’s new life of crime with compassionate understanding as opposed to as a exploitative warning story. Now adopting the moniker Baby, he engages in his paid liaisons with brash fearlessness and poignant gullibility. To his customers, Wellington offers more than his youth and his body, but also moments of care.
In the hectic energy of São Paulo, teeming with bustling alleyways and colourful shopfronts, there’s a persistent isolation, as adrift individuals hold fast to one another for fleeting joy.
"The streets are filled with danger, yet they are also the space where they can find their own family, too."
A Complex Dynamic of Affection and Power
Ronaldo is both a lover and a guardian-like mentor to Wellington, but their connection is thrown off course by envy and monetary insecurity. Intimidation from nefarious characters in the criminal underworld seem minor next to the fear of institutional observation and incarceration, epitomized by the constant sight of police officers on patrol.
Baby is especially potent as a perceptive study of the lost people who have fallen through the cracks the system. The film ultimately serves as a heartfelt look into resilience, chosen family, and the pursuit of identity within a demanding urban landscape.
