🔗 Share this article Baby Review: An Astute Portrait of LGBTQ+ Brazilian Survivors Adrift in the Established Order Evoking the metropolitan unease and vibrancy of São Paulo, Marcelo Caetano’s gripping drama zooms in on those who live on the fringes of an constantly evolving metropolis. Newly freed from 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 late-night excursion with his lively group of LGBTQ+ and gender non-conforming friends, Wellington meets Ronaldo (actor Ricardo Teodoro), a strapping, magnetic hustler over double his age. Bathed in the wavering neon of a neon-lit porn cinema, their first meeting is sensuous and erotic, with an edge of danger. Ronaldo swiftly initiates Wellington to the shadowy world of sex work and narcotics trafficking. A Study of Empathy Rather Than Exploitation The film illustrates Wellington’s new life of crime with gentle sympathy as opposed to as a exploitative warning story. Now adopting the moniker Baby, he approaches his transactional encounters with brash fearlessness and touching naivety. To his clients, 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 vibrant storefronts, there’s a persistent isolation, as unmoored souls cling on to one another for fleeting joy. "The urban landscape can be fraught with peril, yet they are the place where they can find their own family, too." A Complicated Dynamic of Love and Control Ronaldo is at once a romantic interest and a sheltering paternal presence to Wellington, but their bond is sabotaged by possessiveness and monetary insecurity. Intimidation from dubious individuals in the underworld pale in comparison to the fear of state surveillance and jail time, epitomized by the looming presence of police officers in the area. Baby is particularly impactful as a keen observation of the disenfranchised individuals who have been failed by the system. The film stands as a poignant exploration into resilience, non-biological kinship, and the search for purpose within a unforgiving urban landscape.