The Film Baby Review: An Astute Depiction of Queer Brazilian Hustlers Adrift in the System

Channelling the metropolitan unease and dynamic spirit of São Paulo, director Marcelo Caetano's gripping drama zooms in on those who inhabit the outskirts of an constantly evolving metropolis. Recently released from juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (João Pedro Mariano) finds himself at a crossroads; deserted by his parents, the wide-eyed young man finds solace in the arms of others.

On an night on the town with his lively group of queer and non-binary friends, Wellington meets Ronaldo (actor Ricardo Teodoro), a muscular, charming 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 swiftly initiates Wellington to the clandestine realm of prostitution and narcotics trafficking.

A Study of Empathy Instead of Sensationalism

The film illustrates Wellington’s new life of crime with gentle sympathy instead of as a sensationalist cautionary tale. Now using the alias Baby, he enters his commercial trysts with swaggering confidence and poignant gullibility. To his clients, Wellington provides not just his youth and his body, but also fleeting acts of kindness.

In the hectic energy of São Paulo, filled with busy lanes and vibrant storefronts, there’s a persistent isolation, as rootless people hold fast to one another for fleeting joy.

"The streets might be filled with danger, yet they are also the space where they can discover chosen kin, too."

A Complex Relationship of Affection and Power

Ronaldo is both a lover and a sheltering paternal presence to Wellington, but their connection is thrown off course by jealousy and economic precarity. Dangers posed by nefarious characters in the underworld seem minor next to the fear of institutional observation and imprisonment, epitomized by the hovering figures of police officers on patrol.

Baby is especially potent as an astute portrait of the forgotten souls who have slipped through the gaps the social system. The film ultimately serves as a poignant look into making ends meet, chosen family, and the quest for identity within a demanding urban landscape.