The Film Baby Review: An Astute Depiction of Queer Brazilian Survivors Adrift in the System
Capturing the city's relentless energy and dynamic spirit of São Paulo, filmmaker Caetano's bracing drama centres on those who exist on the margins of an perpetually shifting metropolis. Newly freed from juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (the actor João Pedro Mariano) finds himself at a crossroads; abandoned by his parents, the impressionable young man discovers refuge in the arms of others.
On an night on the town with his lively group of gay and non-binary friends, Wellington meets Ronaldo (Ricardo Teodoro), a strapping, magnetic hustler over double his age. Shrouded in the pulsating light of a adult movie theater, their initial encounter is sensuous and erotic, with an tinge of peril. Ronaldo swiftly initiates Wellington to the underground scene of sex work and drug dealing.
A Study of Understanding Instead of Exploitation
The film illustrates Wellington’s new life of crime with tender empathy instead of as a melodramatic morality play. Now using the alias Baby, he approaches his transactional encounters with cocky bravado and poignant gullibility. To his customers, Wellington lends not only his youth and his body, but also fleeting acts of kindness.
In the hectic energy of São Paulo, teeming with bustling alleyways and vibrant storefronts, there’s a deep-seated solitude, as rootless people grasp at one another for temporary happiness.
"The streets can be riddled with risk, yet they are the place where they can forge familial bonds, too."
A Complex Relationship of Love and Control
Ronaldo is simultaneously a partner and a guardian-like mentor to Wellington, but their relationship is derailed by envy and financial instability. Intimidation from dubious individuals in the shadow economy seem minor next to the anxiety about institutional observation and incarceration, symbolized by the looming presence of police officers in the area.
Baby is particularly impactful as a keen observation of the disenfranchised individuals who have fallen through the cracks the system. The film ultimately serves as a poignant exploration into survival, chosen family, and the pursuit of purpose within a harsh urban landscape.
