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

Channelling the urban restlessness and vibrancy of São Paulo, director Marcelo Caetano's gripping drama centres on those who live on the fringes of an ever-changing metropolis. Fresh out of juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (João Pedro Mariano) finds himself at a crossroads; abandoned by his parents, the innocent young man seeks comfort in the arms of others.

On an evening out with his rowdy group of queer and non-binary friends, Wellington crosses paths with Ronaldo (actor Ricardo Teodoro), a strapping, magnetic hustler over double his age. Shrouded in the wavering neon of a neon-lit porn cinema, their first meeting is physical and passionate, with an hint of risk. Ronaldo swiftly initiates Wellington to the shadowy world of prostitution and narcotics trafficking.

A Portrait of Understanding Instead of Sensationalism

Caetano depicts Wellington’s new life of crime with compassionate understanding rather than as a melodramatic morality play. Now adopting the moniker Baby, he approaches his transactional encounters with cocky bravado and poignant gullibility. To his clients, Wellington lends not only his youth and his body, but also fleeting acts of kindness.

In the feverish excitement of São Paulo, teeming with crowded backstreets and colourful shopfronts, there’s a gnawing loneliness, as rootless people cling on to one another for temporary happiness.

"The streets can be fraught with peril, yet they are where they can forge familial bonds, too."

A Complex Dynamic of Love and Control

Ronaldo is at once a romantic interest and a guardian-like mentor to Wellington, but their relationship is derailed by envy and economic precarity. Intimidation from nefarious characters in the underworld seem minor next to the fear of state surveillance and imprisonment, represented by the looming presence of police officers making their rounds.

Baby is particularly impactful as an astute portrait of the forgotten souls who have fallen through the cracks the social system. The film functions as a poignant examination into making ends meet, chosen family, and the search for purpose within a demanding urban landscape.