The Film Baby Review: An Astute Depiction of Queer Brazilian Survivors Lost in the Established Order
Evoking the city's relentless energy and dynamic spirit of São Paulo, filmmaker Caetano's gripping drama zooms in on those who exist on the margins of an ever-changing metropolis. Newly freed from juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (João Pedro Mariano) stands at a pivotal juncture; abandoned by his parents, the impressionable young man discovers refuge in the arms of others.
On an evening out with his boisterous group of LGBTQ+ and gender non-conforming friends, Wellington crosses paths with Ronaldo (actor Ricardo Teodoro), a hunky, charismatic hustler more than twice his age. Illuminated by the wavering neon of a neon-lit porn cinema, their introductory rendezvous is intimate and charged, with an edge of danger. Ronaldo promptly ushers Wellington to the shadowy world of prostitution and drug dealing.
A Portrait of Empathy Instead of Sensationalism
Caetano depicts Wellington’s new life of crime with gentle sympathy rather than 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 fleeting acts of kindness.
In the feverish excitement of São Paulo, filled with busy lanes and vibrant storefronts, there’s a gnawing loneliness, as adrift individuals hold fast to one another for momentary bliss.
"The streets might be fraught with peril, yet they are the place where they can forge familial bonds, too."
A Complicated Relationship of Affection and Power
Ronaldo is both a lover and a sheltering paternal presence to Wellington, but their bond is sabotaged by jealousy and monetary insecurity. Threats from shady figures in the shadow economy are overshadowed by the anxiety about state surveillance and imprisonment, represented by the constant sight of police officers making their rounds.
Baby is most powerful as a keen observation of the lost people who have been failed by the system. The film ultimately serves as a poignant look into resilience, found community, and the pursuit of self within a demanding urban landscape.
