Baby Review: An Astute Portrait of Queer Brazilian Survivors Lost in the Established Order

Channelling the city's relentless energy and dynamic spirit of São Paulo, filmmaker Caetano's gripping drama centres on those who inhabit the outskirts of an constantly evolving 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 impressionable young man discovers refuge in the arms of others.

On an evening out with his boisterous group of queer and non-binary friends, Wellington crosses paths with Ronaldo (actor Ricardo Teodoro), a hunky, charismatic hustler more than twice his age. Bathed in the pulsating light of a neon-lit porn cinema, their introductory rendezvous is intimate and charged, with an hint of risk. Ronaldo promptly ushers Wellington to the clandestine realm of prostitution and drug dealing.

A Portrait of Empathy Rather Than Sensationalism

The director portrays Wellington’s new life of crime with gentle sympathy rather than as a melodramatic morality play. Now using the alias 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 feverish excitement of São Paulo, filled with busy lanes and colourful shopfronts, there’s a gnawing loneliness, as unmoored souls cling on to one another for temporary happiness.

"The streets are riddled with risk, yet they are also the space where they can discover chosen kin, too."

A Complex Relationship of Love and Control

Ronaldo is at once a romantic interest and a sheltering paternal presence to Wellington, but their bond is sabotaged by jealousy and monetary insecurity. Dangers posed by nefarious characters in the shadow economy are overshadowed by the fear of government monitoring and jail time, epitomized by the constant sight of police officers making their rounds.

Baby is especially potent as a keen observation of the disenfranchised individuals who have been failed by the established structure. The film functions as a moving look into survival, non-biological kinship, and the pursuit of purpose within a harsh urban landscape.