The Film Baby Review: A Sharp Portrait of Queer Brazilian Survivors Adrift in the System
Evoking the metropolitan unease and vibrancy of São Paulo, filmmaker Caetano's gripping drama zooms in on those who live on the fringes of an perpetually shifting metropolis. Recently released from juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (the actor João Pedro Mariano) finds himself at a crossroads; deserted by his parents, the innocent young man seeks comfort in the arms of others.
On an evening out with his rowdy group of LGBTQ+ and gender non-conforming friends, Wellington encounters Ronaldo (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 physical and passionate, with an tinge of peril. Ronaldo promptly ushers Wellington to the underground scene of prostitution and drug dealing.
A Portrait of Understanding Instead of Sensationalism
Caetano depicts Wellington’s new life of crime with compassionate understanding instead of as a melodramatic morality play. Now adopting the moniker Baby, he enters his commercial trysts with swaggering confidence and touching naivety. To his customers, Wellington offers more than his youth and his body, but also moments of care.
In the hectic energy of São Paulo, overflowing with busy lanes and vibrant storefronts, there’s a persistent isolation, as unmoored souls cling on to one another for momentary bliss.
"The urban landscape might be filled with danger, yet they are where they can find their own family, too."
A Complex Dynamic of Love and Control
Ronaldo is both a lover and a protective father figure to Wellington, but their connection is thrown off course by possessiveness and financial instability. Intimidation from nefarious characters in the shadow economy are overshadowed by the fear of institutional observation and jail time, represented by the hovering figures of police officers making their rounds.
Baby is most powerful as a keen observation of the forgotten souls who have been failed by the system. The film stands as a heartfelt exploration into resilience, chosen family, and the pursuit of self within a unforgiving urban landscape.
