The Film Baby Review: An Astute Depiction of Queer Brazilian Hustlers Adrift in the System
Channelling the urban restlessness and dynamic spirit of São Paulo, filmmaker Caetano's unflinching drama focuses on those who inhabit the outskirts of an constantly evolving metropolis. Newly freed from juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (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 late-night excursion with his rowdy group of LGBTQ+ and gender non-conforming friends, Wellington crosses paths with Ronaldo (Ricardo Teodoro), a hunky, charismatic hustler significantly older than his age. Shrouded in the flickering glow of a XXX cinema, their first meeting is intimate and charged, with an edge of danger. Ronaldo quickly introduces Wellington to the clandestine realm of the sex trade and drug dealing.
A Study of Empathy Instead of Exploitation
Caetano depicts Wellington’s new life of crime with tender empathy instead of as a exploitative warning story. Now using the alias Baby, he approaches his transactional encounters with swaggering confidence and endearing innocence. To his customers, Wellington offers more than his youth and his body, but also moments of care.
In the feverish excitement of São Paulo, filled with crowded backstreets and brightly painted facades, there’s a persistent isolation, as adrift individuals cling on to one another for fleeting joy.
"The urban landscape might be riddled with risk, yet they are also the space where they can find their own family, too."
A Complicated Relationship of Affection and Power
Ronaldo is both a lover and a sheltering paternal presence to Wellington, but their connection is thrown off course by envy and monetary insecurity. Threats from dubious individuals in the underworld are overshadowed by the fear of institutional observation and incarceration, epitomized by the hovering figures of police officers in the area.
Baby is particularly impactful as a keen observation of the forgotten souls who have fallen through the cracks the social system. The film ultimately serves as a poignant exploration into survival, chosen family, and the quest for identity within a unforgiving urban landscape.
