The Film Baby Review: An Astute Depiction of LGBTQ+ Brazilian Survivors Adrift in the Established Order

Capturing the city's relentless energy and vibrancy of São Paulo, filmmaker Caetano's bracing drama zooms in on those who exist on the margins of an constantly evolving metropolis. Newly freed from juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (João Pedro Mariano) stands at a pivotal juncture; left behind by his parents, the impressionable young man seeks comfort in the arms of others.

On an night on the town with his lively group of queer and non-binary friends, Wellington meets Ronaldo (Ricardo Teodoro), a hunky, charismatic hustler over double his age. Illuminated by the pulsating light of a XXX cinema, their introductory rendezvous is physical and passionate, with an hint of risk. Ronaldo swiftly initiates Wellington to the shadowy world of the sex trade and narcotics trafficking.

A Study of Empathy Instead of Sensationalism

The director portrays Wellington’s new life of crime with gentle sympathy rather than as a melodramatic morality play. Now using the alias Baby, he enters his commercial trysts with cocky bravado and endearing innocence. To his customers, Wellington provides not just his youth and his body, but also fleeting acts of kindness.

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

"The urban landscape might be riddled with risk, yet they are also the space where they can discover chosen kin, too."

A Complex Relationship of Affection and Power

Ronaldo is simultaneously a partner and a guardian-like mentor to Wellington, but their bond is sabotaged by possessiveness and economic precarity. Threats from nefarious characters in the underworld are overshadowed by the anxiety about institutional observation and imprisonment, symbolized by the hovering figures of police officers on patrol.

Baby is particularly impactful as a keen observation of the disenfranchised individuals who have slipped through the gaps the established structure. The film stands as a moving exploration into survival, non-biological kinship, and the pursuit of self within a unforgiving urban landscape.