Baby Review: A Sharp Portrait of LGBTQ+ Brazilian Survivors Lost in the System

Evoking the city's relentless energy and vibrancy of São Paulo, Marcelo Caetano’s unflinching drama focuses on those who inhabit the outskirts of an perpetually shifting metropolis. Newly freed from juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (the actor João Pedro Mariano) faces a critical turning point; deserted by his parents, the wide-eyed young man seeks comfort in the arms of others.

On an night on the town with his rowdy group of queer and non-binary friends, Wellington meets Ronaldo (actor Ricardo Teodoro), a muscular, charming hustler significantly older than his age. Shrouded in the wavering neon of a XXX cinema, their initial encounter is physical and passionate, with an tinge of peril. Ronaldo swiftly initiates Wellington to the clandestine realm of prostitution and drug dealing.

A Portrait of Understanding Rather Than Sensationalism

Caetano depicts Wellington’s new life of crime with tender empathy instead of as a melodramatic morality play. Now using the alias Baby, he approaches his transactional encounters with swaggering confidence and poignant gullibility. To his clients, Wellington provides not just his youth and his body, but also fleeting acts of kindness.

In the electrifying chaos of São Paulo, overflowing with crowded backstreets and vibrant storefronts, there’s a gnawing loneliness, as rootless people cling on to one another for temporary happiness.

"The city can be riddled with risk, yet they are where they can discover chosen kin, too."

A Complicated Relationship of Affection and Power

Ronaldo is at once a romantic interest and a sheltering paternal presence to Wellington, but their relationship is derailed by envy and financial instability. Dangers posed by nefarious characters in the underworld are overshadowed by the fear of government monitoring and jail time, symbolized by the looming presence of police officers in the area.

Baby is particularly impactful as a keen observation of the disenfranchised individuals who have been failed by the system. The film stands as a heartfelt exploration into resilience, found community, and the search for self within a harsh urban landscape.