The Film Baby Review: An Astute Portrait of LGBTQ+ Brazilian Hustlers Adrift in the System

Channelling the metropolitan unease and pulsating life of São Paulo, filmmaker Caetano's unflinching drama zooms in on those who inhabit the outskirts of an perpetually shifting metropolis. Newly freed from juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (João Pedro Mariano) stands at a pivotal juncture; deserted by his parents, the wide-eyed young man finds solace in the arms of others.

On an evening out with his boisterous group of gay and non-binary friends, Wellington meets Ronaldo (actor Ricardo Teodoro), a muscular, charming hustler significantly older than his age. Bathed in the pulsating light of a neon-lit porn cinema, their introductory rendezvous is intimate and charged, with an edge of danger. Ronaldo quickly introduces Wellington to the shadowy world of prostitution and narcotics trafficking.

A Study of Empathy Instead of Exploitation

The film illustrates Wellington’s new life of crime with gentle sympathy rather than as a exploitative warning story. Now going by the name of Baby, he approaches his transactional encounters with brash fearlessness and touching naivety. To his customers, Wellington offers more than his youth and his body, but also fleeting acts of kindness.

In the hectic energy of São Paulo, overflowing with bustling alleyways and vibrant storefronts, there’s a deep-seated solitude, as rootless people hold fast to one another for momentary bliss.

"The urban landscape might be filled with danger, yet they are the place where they can forge familial bonds, too."

A Complicated Dynamic of Affection and Power

Ronaldo is at once a romantic interest and a sheltering paternal presence to Wellington, but their connection is thrown off course by envy and monetary insecurity. Intimidation from dubious individuals in the criminal underworld pale in comparison to the fear of state surveillance and imprisonment, symbolized by the looming presence of police officers in the area.

Baby is especially potent as an astute portrait of the disenfranchised individuals who have fallen through the cracks the social system. The film functions as a heartfelt exploration into resilience, found community, and the quest for purpose within a unforgiving urban landscape.