The Film Baby Review: A Sharp Portrait of LGBTQ+ Brazilian Hustlers Lost in the System

Evoking the city's relentless energy and dynamic spirit of São Paulo, filmmaker Caetano's bracing drama centres on those who inhabit the outskirts of an perpetually shifting metropolis. Newly freed from juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (the actor João Pedro Mariano) stands at a pivotal juncture; left behind by his parents, the wide-eyed young man seeks comfort in the arms of others.

On an evening out with his lively group of LGBTQ+ and gender non-conforming friends, Wellington crosses paths with Ronaldo (actor Ricardo Teodoro), a strapping, magnetic hustler significantly older than his age. Bathed in the flickering glow of a neon-lit porn cinema, their first meeting is intimate and charged, with an hint of risk. Ronaldo promptly ushers Wellington to the underground scene of sex work and narcotics trafficking.

A Study of Understanding Rather Than Sensationalism

Caetano depicts Wellington’s new life of crime with gentle sympathy as opposed to as a sensationalist cautionary tale. Now going by the name of Baby, he engages in his paid liaisons with cocky bravado and touching naivety. To his patrons, Wellington lends not only his youth and his body, but also fleeting acts of kindness.

In the feverish excitement of São Paulo, filled with busy lanes and colourful shopfronts, there’s a persistent isolation, as adrift individuals grasp at one another for fleeting joy.

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

A Complicated Dynamic of Affection and Power

Ronaldo is at once a romantic interest and a sheltering paternal presence to Wellington, but their relationship is derailed by jealousy and monetary insecurity. Threats from dubious individuals in the shadow economy are overshadowed by the anxiety about state surveillance and incarceration, symbolized by the constant sight of police officers in the area.

Baby is most powerful as a keen observation of the forgotten souls who have slipped through the gaps the established structure. The film functions as a moving look into survival, chosen family, and the pursuit of purpose within a harsh urban landscape.