Baby Review: A Sharp Portrait of Queer Brazilian Hustlers Lost in the System
Channelling the city's relentless energy and pulsating life of São Paulo, director Marcelo Caetano's gripping drama focuses on those who exist on the margins of an ever-changing metropolis. Fresh out of 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 evening out with his lively group of LGBTQ+ and gender non-conforming friends, Wellington crosses paths with Ronaldo (actor Ricardo Teodoro), a hunky, charismatic hustler significantly older than his age. Bathed in the wavering neon of a adult movie theater, their first meeting is intimate and charged, with an edge of danger. Ronaldo promptly ushers Wellington to the underground scene of the sex trade and selling drugs.
A Study of Empathy Instead of Sensationalism
The director portrays Wellington’s new life of crime with tender empathy as opposed to as a melodramatic morality play. Now adopting the moniker Baby, he engages in his paid liaisons with brash fearlessness and endearing innocence. To his customers, Wellington lends not only his youth and his body, but also fleeting acts of kindness.
In the electrifying chaos of São Paulo, teeming with crowded backstreets and brightly painted facades, there’s a deep-seated solitude, as rootless people cling on to one another for temporary happiness.
"The urban landscape are fraught with peril, yet they are also the space where they can discover chosen kin, too."
A Complicated Dynamic of Affection and Power
Ronaldo is both a lover and a protective father figure to Wellington, but their bond is sabotaged by possessiveness and financial instability. Threats from dubious individuals in the criminal underworld pale in comparison to the fear of government monitoring and imprisonment, represented by the constant sight of police officers making their rounds.
Baby is particularly impactful as an astute portrait of the lost people who have slipped through the gaps the system. The film stands as a heartfelt exploration into making ends meet, non-biological kinship, and the pursuit of purpose within a unforgiving urban landscape.
