Baby Review: A Sharp Depiction of Queer Brazilian Survivors Adrift in the System
Capturing the city's relentless energy and dynamic spirit of São Paulo, filmmaker Caetano's bracing drama centres on those who live on the fringes of an ever-changing metropolis. Fresh out of 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 seeks comfort in the arms of others.
On an evening out with his boisterous group of LGBTQ+ and gender non-conforming friends, Wellington meets Ronaldo (actor Ricardo Teodoro), a muscular, charming hustler significantly older than his age. Bathed in the flickering glow of a neon-lit porn cinema, their first meeting is sensuous and erotic, with an tinge of peril. Ronaldo promptly ushers Wellington to the clandestine realm of the sex trade and drug dealing.
A Study of Understanding Rather Than Exploitation
Caetano depicts Wellington’s new life of crime with compassionate understanding instead of as a sensationalist cautionary tale. Now going by the name of Baby, he approaches his transactional encounters with cocky bravado and touching naivety. To his clients, Wellington offers more than his youth and his body, but also instances of tenderness.
In the hectic energy of São Paulo, teeming with bustling alleyways and colourful shopfronts, there’s a persistent isolation, as adrift individuals grasp at 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 Complex Relationship of Love and Control
Ronaldo is simultaneously a partner and a sheltering paternal presence to Wellington, but their bond is sabotaged by jealousy and monetary insecurity. Dangers posed by 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 most powerful as a keen observation of the forgotten souls who have fallen through the cracks the social system. The film functions as a heartfelt examination into resilience, found community, and the pursuit of purpose within a harsh urban landscape.
