Baby Review: A Sharp Depiction of LGBTQ+ Brazilian Survivors Adrift in the Established Order
Evoking the city's relentless energy and pulsating life of São Paulo, filmmaker Caetano's unflinching drama centres on those who live on the fringes of an ever-changing metropolis. Newly freed from juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (the actor João Pedro Mariano) stands at a pivotal juncture; abandoned by his parents, the innocent young man finds solace in the arms of others.
On an night on the town with his lively group of gay and non-binary friends, Wellington encounters Ronaldo (Ricardo Teodoro), a hunky, charismatic hustler more than twice his age. Shrouded in the flickering glow of a adult movie theater, their first meeting is intimate and charged, with an tinge of peril. Ronaldo quickly introduces Wellington to the shadowy world of the sex trade and drug dealing.
A Portrait of Empathy Instead of Sensationalism
Caetano depicts Wellington’s new life of crime with gentle sympathy rather than as a sensationalist cautionary tale. Now adopting the moniker Baby, he engages in his paid liaisons with brash fearlessness and endearing innocence. To his customers, Wellington offers more than his youth and his body, but also moments of care.
In the hectic energy of São Paulo, overflowing with busy lanes and brightly painted facades, there’s a deep-seated solitude, as adrift individuals grasp at one another for temporary happiness.
"The streets can be filled with danger, yet they are the place where they can forge familial bonds, too."
A Complex Relationship of Affection and Power
Ronaldo is simultaneously a partner and a sheltering paternal presence to Wellington, but their bond is sabotaged by possessiveness and monetary insecurity. Threats from nefarious characters in the underworld seem minor next to the anxiety about government monitoring and jail time, symbolized by the looming presence of police officers on patrol.
Baby is particularly impactful as a keen observation of the disenfranchised individuals who have slipped through the gaps the system. The film functions as a heartfelt exploration into making ends meet, chosen family, and the search for self within a unforgiving urban landscape.
