Baby Review: A Sharp Depiction of Queer Brazilian Survivors Adrift in the Established Order
Capturing the city's relentless energy and pulsating life of São Paulo, director Marcelo Caetano's gripping drama centres on those who exist on the margins of an constantly evolving metropolis. Recently released 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 night on the town with his lively group of LGBTQ+ and gender non-conforming friends, Wellington encounters Ronaldo (Ricardo Teodoro), a hunky, charismatic hustler more than twice his age. Bathed in the flickering glow of a neon-lit porn cinema, their first meeting is sensuous and erotic, with an hint of risk. Ronaldo quickly introduces Wellington to the underground scene of prostitution and drug dealing.
A Portrait of Understanding Rather Than Exploitation
Caetano depicts Wellington’s new life of crime with tender empathy instead of as a sensationalist cautionary tale. Now using the alias Baby, he approaches his transactional encounters with swaggering confidence and poignant gullibility. To his customers, Wellington offers more than his youth and his body, but also instances of tenderness.
In the hectic energy of São Paulo, filled with crowded backstreets and vibrant storefronts, there’s a persistent isolation, as adrift individuals grasp at one another for fleeting joy.
"The urban landscape can be filled with danger, yet they are where they can find their own family, 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 envy and economic precarity. Dangers posed by dubious individuals in the criminal underworld pale in comparison to the fear of state surveillance and jail time, represented by the constant sight of police officers making their rounds.
Baby is particularly impactful as a keen observation of the lost people who have been failed by the system. The film stands as a poignant examination into resilience, non-biological kinship, and the pursuit of identity within a demanding urban landscape.
