Baby Review: An Astute Portrait of LGBTQ+ Brazilian Survivors Lost in the System
Evoking the urban restlessness and pulsating life of São Paulo, Marcelo Caetano’s gripping drama zooms in on those who live on the fringes of an ever-changing metropolis. Fresh out of juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (the actor João Pedro Mariano) stands at a pivotal juncture; left behind by his parents, the innocent young man finds solace in the arms of others.
On an night on the town with his rowdy group of gay and non-binary friends, Wellington crosses paths with Ronaldo (actor Ricardo Teodoro), a hunky, charismatic hustler more than twice his age. Bathed in the wavering neon of a XXX cinema, their initial encounter is physical and passionate, with an edge of danger. Ronaldo swiftly initiates Wellington to the clandestine realm of sex work and selling drugs.
A Portrait of Understanding Rather Than Sensationalism
The director portrays Wellington’s new life of crime with tender empathy instead of as a sensationalist cautionary tale. Now adopting the moniker Baby, he approaches his transactional encounters with swaggering confidence and endearing innocence. To his patrons, Wellington provides not just 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 deep-seated solitude, as unmoored souls grasp at one another for momentary bliss.
"The streets can be filled with danger, yet they are where they can discover chosen kin, too."
A Complex Dynamic of Affection and Power
Ronaldo is simultaneously a partner and a sheltering paternal presence to Wellington, but their connection is thrown off course by jealousy and financial instability. Intimidation from dubious individuals in the criminal underworld seem minor next to the dread of state surveillance and jail time, epitomized by the hovering figures of police officers in the area.
Baby is especially potent as a perceptive study of the forgotten souls who have fallen through the cracks the social system. The film stands as a moving exploration into resilience, non-biological kinship, and the search for identity within a demanding urban landscape.
