The Film Baby Review: An Astute Portrait of Queer Brazilian Hustlers Adrift in the System
Channelling the urban restlessness and dynamic spirit of São Paulo, Marcelo Caetano’s unflinching drama focuses on those who inhabit the outskirts of an constantly evolving metropolis. Recently released from juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (the actor João Pedro Mariano) stands at a pivotal juncture; abandoned by his parents, the impressionable young man seeks comfort in the arms of others.
On an night on the town with his rowdy group of queer and non-binary friends, Wellington crosses paths with Ronaldo (actor Ricardo Teodoro), a hunky, charismatic hustler over double his age. Bathed in the pulsating light of a adult movie theater, their first meeting is physical and passionate, with an hint of risk. Ronaldo quickly introduces Wellington to the clandestine realm of sex work and drug dealing.
A Study of Empathy Rather Than Exploitation
Caetano depicts Wellington’s new life of crime with tender empathy as opposed to as a sensationalist cautionary tale. Now adopting the moniker Baby, he engages in his paid liaisons with brash fearlessness and touching naivety. To his clients, Wellington lends not only his youth and his body, but also moments of care.
In the electrifying chaos of São Paulo, filled with crowded backstreets and colourful shopfronts, there’s a gnawing loneliness, as adrift individuals hold fast to one another for temporary happiness.
"The city are filled with danger, yet they are also the space where they can find their own family, too."
A Complicated Dynamic of Love and Control
Ronaldo is simultaneously a partner and a guardian-like mentor to Wellington, but their relationship is derailed by possessiveness and financial instability. Threats from nefarious characters in the shadow economy are overshadowed by the dread of institutional observation and jail time, symbolized by the hovering figures of police officers making their rounds.
Baby is particularly impactful as a keen observation of the forgotten souls who have been failed by the established structure. The film functions as a moving examination into making ends meet, chosen family, and the quest for identity within a harsh urban landscape.
