Baby Review: An Astute Depiction of Queer Brazilian Survivors Lost in the System
Capturing the urban restlessness and pulsating life of São Paulo, filmmaker Caetano's unflinching drama zooms in on those who exist on the margins of an ever-changing metropolis. Fresh out of juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (João Pedro Mariano) finds himself at a crossroads; left behind by his parents, the impressionable young man finds solace in the arms of others.
On an late-night excursion with his boisterous group of queer and non-binary friends, Wellington encounters Ronaldo (Ricardo Teodoro), a muscular, charming hustler significantly older than his age. Bathed in the flickering glow of a adult movie theater, their first meeting is physical and passionate, with an tinge of peril. Ronaldo quickly introduces Wellington to the underground scene of prostitution and selling drugs.
A Study of Empathy Rather Than Exploitation
The film illustrates Wellington’s new life of crime with compassionate understanding instead of as a sensationalist cautionary tale. Now adopting the moniker Baby, he approaches his transactional encounters with cocky bravado and endearing innocence. To his customers, Wellington lends not only his youth and his body, but also instances of tenderness.
In the hectic energy of São Paulo, filled with bustling alleyways and colourful shopfronts, there’s a deep-seated solitude, as adrift individuals cling on to one another for momentary bliss.
"The streets might be fraught with peril, yet they are where they can forge familial bonds, too."
A Complex Relationship of Love and Control
Ronaldo is simultaneously a partner and a sheltering paternal presence to Wellington, but their relationship is derailed by jealousy and monetary insecurity. Threats from shady figures in the underworld are overshadowed by the fear of state surveillance and incarceration, represented by the hovering figures of police officers in the area.
Baby is particularly impactful as a keen observation of the lost people who have been failed by the established structure. The film stands as a heartfelt look into making ends meet, chosen family, and the quest for purpose within a harsh urban landscape.