🔗 Share this article The Film Baby Review: A Sharp Depiction of Queer Brazilian Hustlers Adrift in the System Channelling the urban restlessness and vibrancy of São Paulo, Marcelo Caetano’s unflinching drama centres on those who inhabit the outskirts of an ever-changing metropolis. Recently released from juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (João Pedro Mariano) finds himself at a crossroads; left behind by his parents, the wide-eyed young man finds solace in the arms of others. On an evening out with his boisterous group of gay and non-binary friends, Wellington encounters Ronaldo (actor Ricardo Teodoro), a muscular, charming hustler more than twice his age. Illuminated by the wavering neon of a XXX cinema, their first meeting is physical and passionate, with an tinge of peril. Ronaldo quickly introduces Wellington to the underground scene of sex work and narcotics trafficking. A Portrait of Empathy Rather Than Sensationalism The director portrays Wellington’s new life of crime with gentle sympathy rather than as a sensationalist cautionary tale. Now going by the name of Baby, he enters his commercial trysts with brash fearlessness and endearing innocence. To his patrons, Wellington provides not just his youth and his body, but also fleeting acts of kindness. In the hectic energy of São Paulo, teeming with bustling alleyways and brightly painted facades, there’s a deep-seated solitude, as rootless people hold fast to one another for temporary happiness. "The city might be filled with danger, yet they are also the space where they can find their own family, too." A Complicated Relationship of Love and Control Ronaldo is at once a romantic interest and a sheltering paternal presence to Wellington, but their relationship is derailed by envy and financial instability. Dangers posed by nefarious characters in the criminal underworld pale in comparison to the anxiety about state surveillance and incarceration, represented by the constant sight of police officers on patrol. Baby is most powerful as an astute portrait of the disenfranchised individuals who have fallen through the cracks the system. The film stands as a moving examination into survival, found community, and the quest for self within a harsh urban landscape.