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

Capturing the urban restlessness and vibrancy of São Paulo, director Marcelo Caetano's gripping drama zooms in on those who inhabit the outskirts of an ever-changing metropolis. Newly freed from juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (the actor João Pedro Mariano) faces a critical turning point; abandoned by his parents, the innocent young man discovers refuge in the arms of others.

On an late-night excursion with his boisterous group of gay and non-binary friends, Wellington meets Ronaldo (Ricardo Teodoro), a muscular, charming hustler over double his age. Bathed in the wavering neon of a XXX cinema, their initial encounter is sensuous and erotic, with an tinge of peril. Ronaldo quickly introduces Wellington to the clandestine realm of prostitution and narcotics trafficking.

A Study of Understanding Instead of Sensationalism

The director portrays Wellington’s new life of crime with gentle sympathy rather than as a sensationalist cautionary tale. Now using the alias Baby, he approaches his transactional encounters with cocky bravado and touching naivety. To his clients, Wellington lends not only his youth and his body, but also moments of care.

In the feverish excitement of São Paulo, teeming with bustling alleyways and colourful shopfronts, there’s a gnawing loneliness, as adrift individuals grasp at one another for fleeting joy.

"The streets can be riddled with risk, yet they are the place where they can find their own family, too."

A Complex Dynamic of Affection and Power

Ronaldo is both a lover and a guardian-like mentor to Wellington, but their bond is sabotaged by possessiveness and economic precarity. Intimidation from nefarious characters in the underworld are overshadowed by the dread of institutional observation and imprisonment, symbolized by the constant sight of police officers in the area.

Baby is particularly impactful as a keen observation of the disenfranchised individuals who have fallen through the cracks the system. The film ultimately serves as a heartfelt examination into survival, chosen family, and the search for self within a unforgiving urban landscape.