The Film Baby Review: An Astute Portrait of Queer Brazilian Survivors Adrift in the System
Capturing the metropolitan unease and dynamic spirit of São Paulo, director Marcelo Caetano's gripping drama focuses on those who live on the fringes of an ever-changing metropolis. Recently released from juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (João Pedro Mariano) faces a critical turning point; left behind by his parents, the impressionable young man discovers refuge in the arms of others.
On an late-night excursion with his rowdy group of gay and non-binary 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 intimate and charged, with an edge of danger. Ronaldo promptly ushers Wellington to the underground scene of prostitution and narcotics trafficking.
A Study of Empathy Rather Than Exploitation
The film illustrates Wellington’s new life of crime with gentle sympathy rather than as a melodramatic morality play. Now using the alias Baby, he enters his commercial trysts with cocky bravado and poignant gullibility. To his patrons, Wellington lends not only his youth and his body, but also moments of care.
In the hectic energy of São Paulo, overflowing with bustling alleyways and brightly painted facades, there’s a deep-seated solitude, as unmoored souls cling on to one another for momentary bliss.
"The urban landscape can be riddled with risk, yet they are where they can find their own family, too."
A Complicated Dynamic of Love and Control
Ronaldo is simultaneously a partner and a sheltering paternal presence to Wellington, but their relationship is derailed by possessiveness and monetary insecurity. Dangers posed by nefarious characters in the underworld pale in comparison to the fear of state surveillance and imprisonment, epitomized by the hovering figures of police officers making their rounds.
Baby is especially potent as an astute portrait of the lost people who have been failed by the established structure. The film ultimately serves as a heartfelt look into resilience, found community, and the pursuit of identity within a harsh urban landscape.
