Baby Review: An Astute Portrait of Queer Brazilian Hustlers Adrift in the Established Order

Channelling the urban restlessness and dynamic spirit of São Paulo, Marcelo Caetano’s gripping drama centres on those who live on the fringes of an constantly evolving metropolis. Recently released from juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (the actor João Pedro Mariano) stands at a pivotal juncture; left behind by his parents, the innocent young man finds solace in the arms of others.

On an late-night excursion with his lively group of queer and non-binary friends, Wellington encounters Ronaldo (Ricardo Teodoro), a hunky, charismatic hustler significantly older than his age. Shrouded in the pulsating light of a XXX cinema, their first meeting is intimate and charged, with an tinge of peril. Ronaldo swiftly initiates Wellington to the underground scene of sex work and narcotics trafficking.

A Study of Empathy Rather Than Exploitation

The film illustrates Wellington’s new life of crime with compassionate understanding as opposed to as a sensationalist cautionary tale. Now going by the name of Baby, he approaches his transactional encounters with swaggering confidence and poignant gullibility. To his customers, Wellington provides not just his youth and his body, but also fleeting acts of kindness.

In the electrifying chaos of São Paulo, filled with busy lanes and vibrant storefronts, there’s a gnawing loneliness, as unmoored souls hold fast to one another for temporary happiness.

"The streets can be riddled with risk, yet they are the place where they can discover chosen kin, 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 jealousy and financial instability. Intimidation from shady figures in the shadow economy seem minor next to the anxiety about government monitoring and jail time, epitomized by the looming presence of police officers on patrol.

Baby is especially potent as an astute portrait of the disenfranchised individuals who have fallen through the cracks the system. The film stands as a moving examination into making ends meet, found community, and the search for identity within a unforgiving urban landscape.