The Film Baby Review: An Astute Portrait of Queer Brazilian Survivors Adrift in the Established Order
Channelling the metropolitan unease and dynamic spirit of São Paulo, Marcelo Caetano’s bracing 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) stands at a pivotal juncture; deserted by his parents, the wide-eyed young man seeks comfort in the arms of others.
On an late-night excursion with his lively group of queer and non-binary friends, Wellington meets Ronaldo (actor Ricardo Teodoro), a muscular, charming hustler over double his age. Illuminated by the pulsating light of a neon-lit porn cinema, their first meeting is intimate and charged, with an hint of risk. Ronaldo promptly ushers Wellington to the shadowy world of prostitution and selling drugs.
A Portrait of Empathy Instead of Exploitation
Caetano depicts Wellington’s new life of crime with compassionate understanding rather than as a exploitative warning story. Now going by the name of Baby, he enters his commercial trysts with cocky bravado and endearing innocence. To his patrons, Wellington offers more than his youth and his body, but also instances of tenderness.
In the electrifying chaos of São Paulo, overflowing with busy lanes and brightly painted facades, there’s a persistent isolation, as unmoored souls cling on to one another for momentary bliss.
"The city can be riddled with risk, yet they are the place where they can find their own family, too."
A Complex Dynamic of Affection and Power
Ronaldo is simultaneously a partner and a guardian-like mentor to Wellington, but their bond is sabotaged by jealousy and monetary insecurity. Intimidation from nefarious characters in the underworld seem minor next to the dread of state surveillance and incarceration, symbolized by the hovering figures of police officers in the area.
Baby is particularly impactful as a keen observation of the disenfranchised individuals who have been failed by the established structure. The film stands as a heartfelt examination into making ends meet, found community, and the search for identity within a unforgiving urban landscape.
