Baby Review: An Astute Portrait of Queer Brazilian Hustlers Lost in the System
Channelling the city's relentless energy and pulsating life of São Paulo, Marcelo Caetano’s unflinching drama focuses on those who inhabit the outskirts of an constantly evolving metropolis. Fresh out of juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (the actor João Pedro Mariano) faces a critical turning point; deserted by his parents, the innocent young man seeks comfort in the arms of others.
On an late-night excursion with his lively group of LGBTQ+ and gender non-conforming friends, Wellington meets Ronaldo (Ricardo Teodoro), a muscular, charming hustler over double his age. Illuminated by the flickering glow of a adult movie theater, their introductory rendezvous is sensuous and erotic, with an edge of danger. Ronaldo promptly ushers Wellington to the clandestine realm of sex work and drug dealing.
A Portrait of Understanding Rather Than Sensationalism
Caetano depicts Wellington’s new life of crime with tender empathy as opposed to as a melodramatic morality play. Now going by the name of Baby, he enters his commercial trysts with brash fearlessness and endearing innocence. To his customers, Wellington offers more than his youth and his body, but also instances of tenderness.
In the electrifying chaos of São Paulo, overflowing with crowded backstreets and vibrant storefronts, there’s a deep-seated solitude, as unmoored souls hold fast to one another for momentary bliss.
"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 at once a romantic interest and a protective father figure to Wellington, but their bond is sabotaged by envy and financial instability. Dangers posed by dubious individuals in the shadow economy are overshadowed by the anxiety about government monitoring and jail time, epitomized by the looming presence of police officers in the area.
Baby is particularly impactful as an astute portrait of the forgotten souls who have slipped through the gaps the social system. The film functions as a heartfelt look into survival, chosen family, and the pursuit of purpose within a harsh urban landscape.
