Baby Review: A Sharp Depiction of Queer Brazilian Hustlers Lost in the Established Order

Channelling the city's relentless energy and vibrancy of São Paulo, filmmaker Caetano's unflinching drama zooms in on those who live on the fringes of an constantly evolving metropolis. Fresh out of 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 late-night excursion with his rowdy group of LGBTQ+ and gender non-conforming friends, Wellington meets Ronaldo (Ricardo Teodoro), a hunky, charismatic hustler more than twice his age. Bathed in the flickering glow of a XXX cinema, their introductory rendezvous is physical and passionate, with an tinge of peril. Ronaldo swiftly initiates Wellington to the shadowy world of sex work and drug dealing.

A Study of Empathy Instead of Exploitation

Caetano depicts Wellington’s new life of crime with tender empathy rather than as a melodramatic morality play. Now using the alias Baby, he approaches his transactional encounters with swaggering confidence and poignant gullibility. 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 busy lanes and vibrant storefronts, there’s a persistent isolation, as adrift individuals hold fast to one another for temporary happiness.

"The streets can be riddled with risk, yet they are the place where they can discover chosen kin, too."

A Complex Dynamic of Affection and Power

Ronaldo is simultaneously a partner and a guardian-like mentor to Wellington, but their bond is sabotaged by jealousy and economic precarity. Dangers posed by shady figures in the shadow economy seem minor next to the dread of state surveillance and incarceration, symbolized by the looming presence of police officers making their rounds.

Baby is most powerful as a keen observation of the lost people who have been failed by the system. The film stands as a moving examination into resilience, found community, and the pursuit of self within a harsh urban landscape.