The Film Baby Review: An Astute Portrait of Queer Brazilian Survivors Adrift in the Established Order

Evoking the metropolitan unease and vibrancy of São Paulo, Marcelo Caetano’s unflinching drama focuses on those who exist on the margins of an ever-changing metropolis. Recently released from juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (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 night on the town with his lively group of queer and non-binary friends, Wellington crosses paths with Ronaldo (actor Ricardo Teodoro), a muscular, charming hustler significantly older than his age. Shrouded in the flickering glow of a adult movie theater, their initial encounter is sensuous and erotic, with an tinge of peril. Ronaldo promptly ushers Wellington to the clandestine realm of sex work and selling drugs.

A Portrait of Empathy Instead of Sensationalism

Caetano depicts Wellington’s new life of crime with tender empathy as opposed to as a exploitative warning story. Now adopting the moniker Baby, he approaches his transactional encounters with cocky bravado and poignant gullibility. To his customers, Wellington lends not only his youth and his body, but also instances of tenderness.

In the electrifying chaos of São Paulo, overflowing with busy lanes and vibrant storefronts, there’s a persistent isolation, as rootless people hold fast to one another for fleeting joy.

"The urban landscape are filled with danger, yet they are also the space where they can discover chosen kin, too."

A Complex Relationship of Love and Control

Ronaldo is both a lover and a protective father figure to Wellington, but their connection is thrown off course by jealousy and financial instability. Dangers posed by dubious individuals in the shadow economy are overshadowed by the dread of government monitoring and imprisonment, epitomized by the hovering figures of police officers in the area.

Baby is most powerful as an astute portrait of the disenfranchised individuals who have fallen through the cracks the established structure. The film functions as a heartfelt exploration into resilience, found community, and the pursuit of self within a demanding urban landscape.