The Film Baby Review: A Sharp Depiction of LGBTQ+ Brazilian Hustlers Adrift in the Established Order

Evoking the urban restlessness and vibrancy of São Paulo, director Marcelo Caetano's gripping drama focuses on those who exist on the margins of an ever-changing metropolis. Recently released from juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (João Pedro Mariano) stands at a pivotal juncture; abandoned by his parents, the wide-eyed young man discovers refuge in the arms of others.

On an evening out with his lively group of gay and non-binary friends, Wellington encounters Ronaldo (actor Ricardo Teodoro), a strapping, magnetic hustler over double his age. Shrouded in the wavering neon of a neon-lit porn cinema, their initial encounter is intimate and charged, with an hint of risk. Ronaldo swiftly initiates Wellington to the underground scene of the sex trade and drug dealing.

A Portrait of Empathy Rather Than Sensationalism

The film illustrates Wellington’s new life of crime with tender empathy instead of as a melodramatic morality play. Now going by the name of Baby, he enters his commercial trysts with brash fearlessness and poignant gullibility. 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, filled with bustling alleyways and colourful shopfronts, there’s a persistent isolation, as rootless people grasp at one another for fleeting joy.

"The streets can be fraught with peril, yet they are also the space where they can forge familial bonds, too."

A Complicated Relationship of Love and Control

Ronaldo is simultaneously a partner and a sheltering paternal presence to Wellington, but their bond is sabotaged by possessiveness and monetary insecurity. Intimidation from dubious individuals in the underworld are overshadowed by the anxiety about institutional observation and incarceration, represented by the looming presence of police officers on patrol.

Baby is especially potent as a keen observation of the disenfranchised individuals who have fallen through the cracks the system. The film stands as a poignant look into resilience, chosen family, and the pursuit of purpose within a demanding urban landscape.