The Film Baby Review: A Sharp Depiction of LGBTQ+ Brazilian Survivors Adrift in the Established Order
Channelling the urban restlessness and dynamic spirit of São Paulo, filmmaker Caetano's gripping drama centres on those who exist on the margins of an perpetually shifting metropolis. Recently released from juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (João Pedro Mariano) stands at a pivotal juncture; deserted by his parents, the wide-eyed young man discovers refuge in the arms of others.
On an night on the town with his boisterous group of LGBTQ+ and gender non-conforming friends, Wellington meets Ronaldo (actor Ricardo Teodoro), a hunky, charismatic hustler significantly older than his age. Shrouded in the pulsating light of a neon-lit porn cinema, their initial encounter is physical and passionate, with an edge of danger. Ronaldo promptly ushers Wellington to the clandestine realm of the sex trade and selling drugs.
A Portrait of Empathy Rather Than Exploitation
The film illustrates Wellington’s new life of crime with gentle sympathy rather than as a melodramatic morality play. Now adopting the moniker Baby, he approaches his transactional encounters with cocky bravado and touching naivety. To his patrons, Wellington lends not only his youth and his body, but also moments of care.
In the feverish excitement of São Paulo, overflowing with bustling alleyways and vibrant storefronts, there’s a gnawing loneliness, as rootless people hold fast to one another for temporary happiness.
"The streets are filled with danger, yet they are the place where they can forge familial bonds, too."
A Complicated Dynamic of Love and Control
Ronaldo is both a lover and a sheltering paternal presence to Wellington, but their bond is sabotaged by possessiveness and monetary insecurity. Intimidation from shady figures in the underworld are overshadowed by the fear of institutional observation and jail time, epitomized by the looming presence of police officers making their rounds.
Baby is most powerful as a keen observation of the forgotten souls who have slipped through the gaps the established structure. The film functions as a moving examination into making ends meet, found community, and the search for purpose within a harsh urban landscape.
