🔗 Share this article Baby Review: An Astute Portrait of Queer Brazilian Survivors Adrift in the System Capturing the city's relentless energy and vibrancy of São Paulo, filmmaker Caetano's bracing drama focuses on those who live on the fringes of an ever-changing metropolis. Recently released from juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (João Pedro Mariano) finds himself at a crossroads; deserted by his parents, the innocent young man seeks comfort in the arms of others. On an late-night excursion with his boisterous group of LGBTQ+ and gender non-conforming friends, Wellington encounters Ronaldo (Ricardo Teodoro), a hunky, charismatic hustler over double his age. Illuminated by the flickering glow of a XXX cinema, their introductory rendezvous is intimate and charged, with an tinge of peril. Ronaldo quickly introduces Wellington to the clandestine realm of prostitution and selling drugs. A Portrait of Empathy Rather Than Sensationalism The director portrays Wellington’s new life of crime with gentle sympathy rather than as a melodramatic morality play. Now adopting the moniker Baby, he enters his commercial trysts with cocky bravado 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, filled with crowded backstreets and colourful shopfronts, there’s a persistent isolation, as rootless people cling on to one another for temporary happiness. "The city might be fraught with peril, yet they are where they can forge familial bonds, too." A Complex Relationship of Love and Control Ronaldo is both a lover and a protective father figure to Wellington, but their bond is sabotaged by jealousy and monetary insecurity. Intimidation from shady figures in the criminal underworld pale in comparison to the anxiety about institutional observation and imprisonment, epitomized by the looming presence of police officers in the area. Baby is most powerful as an astute portrait of the lost people who have slipped through the gaps the established structure. The film ultimately serves as a heartfelt exploration into resilience, found community, and the search for identity within a demanding urban landscape.