The Film Baby Review: An Astute Depiction of Queer Brazilian Hustlers Adrift in the Established Order

Evoking the city's relentless energy and dynamic spirit of São Paulo, director Marcelo Caetano's gripping drama focuses on those who exist on the margins of an perpetually shifting metropolis. Fresh out of juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (João Pedro Mariano) stands at a pivotal juncture; abandoned by his parents, the wide-eyed young man seeks comfort in the arms of others.

On an late-night excursion with his lively group of queer and non-binary friends, Wellington crosses paths with Ronaldo (actor Ricardo Teodoro), a strapping, magnetic hustler more than twice his age. Bathed in the flickering glow of a XXX cinema, their introductory rendezvous is physical and passionate, with an hint of risk. Ronaldo quickly introduces Wellington to the shadowy world of sex work and selling drugs.

A Portrait of Understanding Instead of Sensationalism

Caetano depicts Wellington’s new life of crime with tender empathy instead of as a melodramatic morality play. Now using the alias Baby, he enters his commercial trysts with cocky bravado and endearing innocence. To his clients, Wellington provides not just his youth and his body, but also moments of care.

In the feverish excitement of São Paulo, filled with bustling alleyways and colourful shopfronts, there’s a persistent isolation, as unmoored souls cling on to one another for momentary bliss.

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

A Complex Relationship of Affection and Power

Ronaldo is both a lover and a protective father figure to Wellington, but their bond is sabotaged by possessiveness and financial instability. Threats from dubious individuals in the shadow economy are overshadowed by the dread of institutional observation and imprisonment, symbolized by the hovering figures of police officers on patrol.

Baby is most powerful as a keen observation of the lost people who have slipped through the gaps the social system. The film stands as a moving exploration into making ends meet, non-biological kinship, and the pursuit of purpose within a demanding urban landscape.