The Film Baby Review: An Astute Depiction of Queer Brazilian Hustlers Adrift in the Established Order
Evoking the urban restlessness and dynamic spirit of São Paulo, Marcelo Caetano’s bracing drama centres on those who live on the fringes 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 evening out with his lively group of gay and non-binary friends, Wellington crosses paths with Ronaldo (Ricardo Teodoro), a strapping, magnetic hustler over double his age. Shrouded in the pulsating light of a neon-lit porn cinema, their initial encounter is sensuous and erotic, with an tinge of peril. Ronaldo quickly introduces Wellington to the underground scene of the sex trade and narcotics trafficking.
A Study of Empathy Instead of Exploitation
The film illustrates Wellington’s new life of crime with compassionate understanding as opposed to as a melodramatic morality play. Now going by the name of Baby, he approaches his transactional encounters with swaggering confidence and poignant gullibility. To his customers, Wellington lends not only his youth and his body, but also fleeting acts of kindness.
In the electrifying chaos of São Paulo, overflowing with busy lanes and vibrant storefronts, there’s a persistent isolation, as adrift individuals grasp at one another for momentary bliss.
"The urban landscape might be fraught with peril, yet they are the place where they can find their own family, too."
A Complicated Dynamic of Affection and Power
Ronaldo is at once a romantic interest and a protective father figure to Wellington, but their bond is sabotaged by jealousy and economic precarity. Threats from dubious individuals in the criminal underworld are overshadowed by the fear of government monitoring and jail time, epitomized by the hovering figures of police officers making their rounds.
Baby is most powerful as a keen observation of the disenfranchised individuals who have slipped through the gaps the established structure. The film ultimately serves as a heartfelt examination into resilience, chosen family, and the pursuit of purpose within a harsh urban landscape.
