Baby Review: An Astute Depiction of Queer Brazilian Hustlers Adrift in the System
Evoking the city's relentless energy and dynamic spirit of São Paulo, director Marcelo 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 (the actor João Pedro Mariano) finds himself at a crossroads; deserted by his parents, the impressionable young man finds solace 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 muscular, charming hustler more than twice his age. Bathed in the flickering glow of a XXX cinema, their first meeting is sensuous and erotic, with an edge of danger. Ronaldo swiftly initiates Wellington to the shadowy world of sex work and selling drugs.
A Study of Understanding Rather Than Exploitation
The director portrays Wellington’s new life of crime with tender empathy instead of as a melodramatic morality play. Now adopting the moniker Baby, he enters his commercial trysts with brash fearlessness and touching naivety. To his clients, Wellington provides not just his youth and his body, but also moments of care.
In the hectic energy of São Paulo, overflowing with busy lanes and vibrant storefronts, there’s a persistent isolation, as adrift individuals cling on to one another for temporary happiness.
"The urban landscape can be filled with danger, yet they are where they can discover chosen kin, too."
A Complicated Relationship of Affection and Power
Ronaldo is simultaneously a partner and a guardian-like mentor to Wellington, but their bond is sabotaged by envy and financial instability. Threats from shady figures in the shadow economy pale in comparison to the anxiety about government monitoring and jail time, epitomized by the looming presence of police officers making their rounds.
Baby is especially potent as a keen observation of the lost people who have been failed by the established structure. The film ultimately serves as a moving look into making ends meet, chosen family, and the search for identity within a harsh urban landscape.
