The Film Baby Review: A Sharp Depiction of LGBTQ+ Brazilian Hustlers Adrift in the Established Order

Channelling the city's relentless energy and dynamic spirit of São Paulo, Marcelo Caetano’s unflinching drama centres on those who exist on the margins of an ever-changing metropolis. Recently released from juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (the actor João Pedro Mariano) stands at a pivotal juncture; deserted by his parents, the wide-eyed young man seeks comfort in the arms of others.

On an evening out with his boisterous group of queer and non-binary friends, Wellington meets Ronaldo (actor Ricardo Teodoro), a hunky, charismatic hustler over double his age. Illuminated by the wavering neon of a neon-lit porn cinema, their introductory rendezvous is intimate and charged, with an hint of risk. Ronaldo quickly introduces Wellington to the underground scene of sex work and narcotics trafficking.

A Study of Understanding Instead of Exploitation

The director portrays Wellington’s new life of crime with compassionate understanding rather than as a sensationalist cautionary tale. Now adopting the moniker Baby, he engages in his paid liaisons with swaggering confidence and endearing innocence. To his customers, Wellington offers more than his youth and his body, but also fleeting acts of kindness.

In the feverish excitement of São Paulo, overflowing with busy lanes and brightly painted facades, there’s a deep-seated solitude, as adrift individuals hold fast to one another for momentary bliss.

"The urban landscape might be fraught with peril, yet they are where they can discover chosen kin, too."

A Complicated Dynamic of Affection and Power

Ronaldo is both a lover and a guardian-like mentor to Wellington, but their relationship is derailed by envy and financial instability. Threats from nefarious characters in the underworld seem minor next to the dread of government monitoring and imprisonment, represented by the looming presence of police officers on patrol.

Baby is most powerful as a perceptive study of the forgotten souls who have been failed by the social system. The film ultimately serves as a moving look into resilience, chosen family, and the quest for identity within a unforgiving urban landscape.