Baby Review: An Astute Portrait of Queer Brazilian Survivors Lost in the Established Order
Channelling the city's relentless energy and vibrancy of São Paulo, director Marcelo Caetano's unflinching drama centres on those who inhabit the outskirts of an constantly evolving metropolis. Fresh out of juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (the actor João Pedro Mariano) stands at a pivotal juncture; deserted by his parents, the innocent young man discovers refuge in the arms of others.
On an night on the town with his boisterous group of gay and non-binary friends, Wellington encounters Ronaldo (Ricardo Teodoro), a hunky, charismatic hustler more than twice his age. Illuminated by the pulsating light of a adult movie theater, their first meeting is intimate and charged, with an hint of risk. Ronaldo quickly introduces Wellington to the underground scene of prostitution and drug dealing.
A Study of Understanding Rather Than Sensationalism
The film illustrates Wellington’s new life of crime with tender empathy as opposed to as a melodramatic morality play. Now using the alias Baby, he enters his commercial trysts with swaggering confidence and endearing innocence. To his clients, Wellington lends not only his youth and his body, but also instances of tenderness.
In the feverish excitement of São Paulo, overflowing with crowded backstreets and vibrant storefronts, there’s a gnawing loneliness, as rootless people hold fast to one another for momentary bliss.
"The streets are fraught with peril, yet they are where they can find their own family, too."
A Complex Dynamic of Affection and Power
Ronaldo is at once a romantic interest and a guardian-like mentor to Wellington, but their relationship is derailed by possessiveness and monetary insecurity. Threats from dubious individuals in the underworld seem minor next to the dread of institutional observation and imprisonment, represented by the hovering figures of police officers on patrol.
Baby is most powerful as a perceptive study of the disenfranchised individuals who have been failed by the social system. The film ultimately serves as a moving exploration into making ends meet, found community, and the quest for identity within a demanding urban landscape.
