The Film Baby Review: A Sharp Depiction of Queer Brazilian Survivors Adrift in the System

Channelling the urban restlessness and vibrancy of São Paulo, filmmaker Caetano's gripping drama focuses on those who live on the fringes of an constantly evolving metropolis. Fresh out of juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (the actor João Pedro Mariano) faces a critical turning point; abandoned by his parents, the wide-eyed young man seeks comfort in the arms of others.

On an night on the town with his rowdy group of LGBTQ+ and gender non-conforming friends, Wellington encounters Ronaldo (actor Ricardo Teodoro), a strapping, magnetic hustler more than twice his age. Shrouded in the wavering neon of a neon-lit porn cinema, their initial encounter is intimate and charged, with an edge of danger. Ronaldo quickly introduces Wellington to the underground scene of sex work and drug dealing.

A Portrait of Empathy Instead of Sensationalism

The director portrays Wellington’s new life of crime with gentle sympathy rather than as a sensationalist cautionary tale. Now adopting the moniker Baby, he approaches his transactional encounters with swaggering confidence and poignant gullibility. To his patrons, Wellington lends not only his youth and his body, but also moments of care.

In the electrifying chaos of São Paulo, filled with crowded backstreets and vibrant storefronts, there’s a gnawing loneliness, as rootless people cling on to one another for temporary happiness.

"The streets can be fraught with peril, yet they are also the space where they can find their own family, too."

A Complicated Dynamic of Affection and Power

Ronaldo is at once a romantic interest and a protective father figure to Wellington, but their bond is sabotaged by jealousy and monetary insecurity. Dangers posed by dubious individuals in the underworld pale in comparison to the fear of state surveillance and jail time, epitomized by the looming presence of police officers on patrol.

Baby is especially potent as an astute portrait of the forgotten souls who have fallen through the cracks the system. The film functions as a heartfelt exploration into resilience, non-biological kinship, and the search for identity within a unforgiving urban landscape.