Baby Review: An Astute Portrait of Queer Brazilian Survivors Adrift in the Established Order
Capturing the urban restlessness and pulsating life of São Paulo, director Marcelo Caetano's unflinching drama centres on those who live on the fringes of an constantly evolving metropolis. Recently released from juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (the actor João Pedro Mariano) stands at a pivotal juncture; left behind by his parents, the innocent young man finds solace in the arms of others.
On an night on the town with his rowdy group of gay and non-binary friends, Wellington meets Ronaldo (actor Ricardo Teodoro), a strapping, magnetic hustler more than twice his age. Bathed in the pulsating light of a neon-lit porn cinema, their initial encounter is physical and passionate, with an hint of risk. Ronaldo quickly introduces Wellington to the underground scene of prostitution and selling drugs.
A Portrait of Empathy Instead of Exploitation
The film illustrates Wellington’s new life of crime with tender empathy as opposed to as a melodramatic morality play. Now adopting the moniker Baby, he approaches his transactional encounters with cocky bravado and poignant gullibility. To his patrons, Wellington provides not just his youth and his body, but also instances of tenderness.
In the electrifying chaos of São Paulo, teeming with bustling alleyways and brightly painted facades, there’s a deep-seated solitude, as rootless people grasp at one another for momentary bliss.
"The streets can be fraught with peril, yet they are where they can find their own family, too."
A Complicated Dynamic of Love and Control
Ronaldo is both a lover and a sheltering paternal presence to Wellington, but their relationship is derailed by envy and economic precarity. Threats from shady figures in the criminal underworld pale in comparison to the fear of government monitoring and incarceration, represented by the hovering figures of police officers in the area.
Baby is especially potent as a keen observation of the lost people who have fallen through the cracks the established structure. The film stands as a poignant examination into making ends meet, chosen family, and the pursuit of identity within a demanding urban landscape.
