The Film Baby Review: An Astute Portrait of Queer Brazilian Hustlers Adrift in the Established Order
Channelling the city's relentless energy and vibrancy of São Paulo, director Marcelo Caetano's bracing drama centres on those who exist on the margins of an ever-changing metropolis. Newly freed from juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (João Pedro Mariano) stands at a pivotal juncture; left behind by his parents, the wide-eyed young man seeks comfort in the arms of others.
On an night on the town with his rowdy group of LGBTQ+ and gender non-conforming friends, Wellington crosses paths with Ronaldo (Ricardo Teodoro), a muscular, charming hustler more than twice his age. Illuminated by the wavering neon of a adult movie theater, their first meeting is sensuous and erotic, with an tinge of peril. Ronaldo quickly introduces Wellington to the underground scene of sex work and selling drugs.
A Study of Empathy Rather Than Exploitation
Caetano depicts Wellington’s new life of crime with gentle sympathy rather than as a sensationalist cautionary tale. Now using the alias Baby, he engages in his paid liaisons with swaggering confidence and endearing innocence. 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 brightly painted facades, there’s a persistent isolation, as adrift individuals grasp at one another for momentary bliss.
"The urban landscape might be filled with danger, yet they are also the space where they can forge familial bonds, too."
A Complex Dynamic of Love and Control
Ronaldo is both a lover and a sheltering paternal presence to Wellington, but their relationship is derailed by jealousy and financial instability. Intimidation from shady figures in the underworld pale in comparison to the fear of state surveillance and jail time, represented by the hovering figures of police officers making their rounds.
Baby is particularly impactful as a perceptive study of the lost people who have been failed by the established structure. The film ultimately serves as a moving look into survival, found community, and the quest for purpose within a harsh urban landscape.
