🔗 Share this article The Film Baby Review: An Astute Depiction of Queer Brazilian Survivors Adrift in the System Evoking the city's relentless energy and dynamic spirit of São Paulo, director Marcelo Caetano's bracing drama centres on those who exist on the margins of an perpetually shifting 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 wide-eyed young man discovers refuge in the arms of others. On an evening out with his rowdy group of gay and non-binary friends, Wellington meets Ronaldo (Ricardo Teodoro), a muscular, charming hustler more than twice his age. Illuminated by the flickering glow of a XXX cinema, their introductory rendezvous is sensuous and erotic, with an hint of risk. Ronaldo promptly ushers Wellington to the clandestine realm of the sex trade and selling drugs. A Portrait of Understanding Instead of Sensationalism The film illustrates Wellington’s new life of crime with tender empathy as opposed to as a melodramatic morality play. Now adopting the moniker Baby, he approaches his transactional encounters with brash fearlessness and touching naivety. To his clients, Wellington offers more than his youth and his body, but also fleeting acts of kindness. In the feverish excitement of São Paulo, filled with busy lanes and brightly painted facades, there’s a gnawing loneliness, as unmoored souls cling on to one another for momentary bliss. "The streets can be riddled with risk, yet they are where they can forge familial bonds, too." A Complicated Relationship of Affection and Power Ronaldo is simultaneously a partner and a guardian-like mentor to Wellington, but their relationship is derailed by possessiveness and monetary insecurity. Intimidation from shady figures in the criminal underworld are overshadowed by the dread of institutional observation and incarceration, represented by the constant sight of police officers in the area. Baby is particularly impactful as an astute portrait of the disenfranchised individuals who have been failed by the established structure. The film ultimately serves as a poignant examination into making ends meet, chosen family, and the search for self within a harsh urban landscape.