Baby Review: An Astute Depiction of Queer Brazilian Hustlers Adrift in the Established Order

Channelling the city's relentless energy and pulsating life of São Paulo, Marcelo Caetano’s bracing drama focuses on those who exist on the margins of an ever-changing metropolis. Recently released from juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (João Pedro Mariano) finds himself at a crossroads; left behind by his parents, the wide-eyed young man seeks comfort in the arms of others.

On an evening out with his lively group of queer and non-binary friends, Wellington meets Ronaldo (actor Ricardo Teodoro), a muscular, charming hustler significantly older than his age. Illuminated by the pulsating light of a adult movie theater, their first meeting is sensuous and erotic, with an hint of risk. Ronaldo promptly ushers Wellington to the underground scene of the sex trade and selling drugs.

A Portrait of Empathy Rather Than Exploitation

The film illustrates Wellington’s new life of crime with compassionate understanding instead of as a exploitative warning story. Now adopting the moniker Baby, he approaches his transactional encounters with cocky bravado and endearing innocence. To his customers, Wellington offers more than his youth and his body, but also moments of care.

In the feverish excitement of São Paulo, filled with bustling alleyways and vibrant storefronts, there’s a persistent isolation, as unmoored souls hold fast to one another for fleeting joy.

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

A Complicated Dynamic of Love and Control

Ronaldo is simultaneously a partner and a guardian-like mentor to Wellington, but their bond is sabotaged by jealousy and financial instability. Dangers posed by nefarious characters in the criminal underworld pale in comparison to the anxiety about institutional observation and incarceration, symbolized by the looming presence of police officers in the area.

Baby is especially potent as a keen observation of the forgotten souls who have slipped through the gaps the established structure. The film stands as a moving examination into making ends meet, non-biological kinship, and the search for identity within a demanding urban landscape.

Brittany Robinson

Elara is a passionate writer and digital storyteller with a focus on innovation and human experiences.

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Baby Review: An Astute Depiction of Queer Brazilian Hustlers Adrift in the Established Order

A Portrait of Empathy Rather Than Exploitation

A Complicated Dynamic of Love and Control

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