The Film Baby Review: An Astute Depiction of Queer Brazilian Hustlers Lost in the System
Evoking the urban restlessness and pulsating life of São Paulo, director Marcelo Caetano's bracing drama centres on those who live on the fringes of an ever-changing metropolis. Fresh out of juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (the actor João Pedro Mariano) stands at a pivotal juncture; abandoned by his parents, the wide-eyed young man seeks comfort in the arms of others.
On an night on the town with his lively group of queer and non-binary friends, Wellington crosses paths with Ronaldo (Ricardo Teodoro), a hunky, charismatic hustler more than twice his age. Illuminated by the flickering glow of a adult movie theater, their introductory rendezvous is sensuous and erotic, with an edge of danger. Ronaldo quickly introduces Wellington to the clandestine realm of sex work and selling drugs.
A Study of Understanding Rather Than Exploitation
Caetano depicts Wellington’s new life of crime with gentle sympathy rather than as a melodramatic morality play. Now going by the name of Baby, he enters his commercial trysts with swaggering confidence and endearing innocence. To his clients, Wellington provides not just his youth and his body, but also moments of care.
In the electrifying chaos of São Paulo, filled with crowded backstreets and vibrant storefronts, there’s a persistent isolation, as adrift individuals hold fast to one another for momentary bliss.
"The streets might be riddled with risk, yet they are where they can forge familial bonds, too."
A Complex Relationship of Love and Control
Ronaldo is at once a romantic interest and a guardian-like mentor to Wellington, but their bond is sabotaged by jealousy and financial instability. Threats from shady figures in the shadow economy pale in comparison to the dread of government monitoring and jail time, represented by the hovering figures of police officers on patrol.
Baby is particularly impactful as an astute portrait of the forgotten souls who have fallen through the cracks the established structure. The film ultimately serves as a moving exploration into making ends meet, chosen family, and the pursuit of purpose within a unforgiving urban landscape.
