Baby Review: An Astute Depiction of Queer Brazilian Hustlers Adrift in the System
Evoking the urban restlessness and vibrancy of São Paulo, filmmaker Caetano's gripping drama centres on those who exist on the margins of an ever-changing metropolis. Newly freed from juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (the actor João Pedro Mariano) stands at a pivotal juncture; deserted by his parents, the innocent young man finds solace in the arms of others.
On an late-night excursion with his rowdy group of queer and non-binary friends, Wellington crosses paths with Ronaldo (actor Ricardo Teodoro), a muscular, charming hustler significantly older than his age. Illuminated by the wavering neon of a XXX cinema, their initial encounter is physical and passionate, with an edge of danger. Ronaldo quickly introduces Wellington to the shadowy world of the sex trade and selling drugs.
A Study of Understanding Rather Than Sensationalism
The director portrays Wellington’s new life of crime with gentle sympathy rather than as a exploitative warning story. Now going by the name of Baby, he enters his commercial trysts with brash fearlessness and endearing innocence. To his patrons, Wellington lends not only his youth and his body, but also fleeting acts of kindness.
In the electrifying chaos of São Paulo, teeming with crowded backstreets and brightly painted facades, there’s a deep-seated solitude, as unmoored souls grasp at one another for fleeting joy.
"The streets are filled with danger, yet they are where they can discover chosen kin, too."
A Complex Dynamic of Affection and Power
Ronaldo is both a lover and a guardian-like mentor to Wellington, but their relationship is derailed by envy and economic precarity. Intimidation from shady figures in the underworld are overshadowed by the fear of state surveillance and jail time, symbolized by the hovering figures of police officers making their rounds.
Baby is especially potent as an astute portrait of the lost people who have been failed by the established structure. The film ultimately serves as a heartfelt exploration into making ends meet, non-biological kinship, and the search for identity within a unforgiving urban landscape.
