Baby Review: A Sharp Depiction of LGBTQ+ Brazilian Survivors Lost in the Established Order

Evoking the urban restlessness and vibrancy of São Paulo, Marcelo Caetano’s unflinching drama zooms in on those who live on the fringes of an constantly evolving metropolis. Fresh out of juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (the actor João Pedro Mariano) faces a critical turning point; left behind by his parents, the wide-eyed young man seeks comfort in the arms of others.

On an evening out with his lively group of LGBTQ+ and gender non-conforming friends, Wellington meets Ronaldo (actor Ricardo Teodoro), a hunky, charismatic hustler significantly older than his age. Bathed in the flickering glow of a XXX cinema, their initial encounter is intimate and charged, with an tinge of peril. Ronaldo swiftly initiates Wellington to the clandestine realm of sex work and narcotics trafficking.

A Portrait of Understanding Instead of Sensationalism

The film illustrates Wellington’s new life of crime with compassionate understanding instead of as a sensationalist cautionary tale. Now adopting the moniker Baby, he engages in his paid liaisons with cocky bravado and endearing innocence. To his clients, Wellington lends not only his youth and his body, but also fleeting acts of kindness.

In the feverish excitement of São Paulo, teeming with busy lanes and vibrant storefronts, there’s a deep-seated solitude, as adrift individuals cling on to one another for fleeting joy.

"The city can be riddled with risk, yet they are also the space where they can find their own family, too."

A Complicated Relationship of Love and Control

Ronaldo is both a lover and a sheltering paternal presence to Wellington, but their connection is thrown off course by possessiveness and financial instability. Intimidation from nefarious characters in the shadow economy pale in comparison to the dread of state surveillance and incarceration, epitomized by the looming presence of police officers in the area.

Baby is most powerful as an astute portrait of the lost people who have fallen through the cracks the social system. The film stands as a moving exploration into resilience, found community, and the pursuit of purpose within a harsh urban landscape.