🔗 Share this article The Film Baby Review: An Astute Depiction of LGBTQ+ Brazilian Hustlers Adrift in the Established Order Evoking the metropolitan unease and vibrancy of São Paulo, director Marcelo Caetano's bracing drama zooms in on those who exist on the margins of an perpetually shifting metropolis. Newly freed from juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (João Pedro Mariano) finds himself at a crossroads; left behind 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 more than twice his age. Illuminated by the wavering neon of a neon-lit porn cinema, their initial encounter is intimate and charged, with an hint of risk. Ronaldo promptly ushers Wellington to the underground scene of the sex trade and narcotics trafficking. A Portrait of Empathy Instead of Sensationalism The director portrays Wellington’s new life of crime with compassionate understanding rather than as a melodramatic morality play. Now using the alias Baby, he engages in his paid liaisons with cocky bravado and touching naivety. To his clients, Wellington provides not just his youth and his body, but also instances of tenderness. In the hectic energy of São Paulo, overflowing with bustling alleyways and vibrant storefronts, there’s a gnawing loneliness, as rootless people hold fast to one another for momentary bliss. "The urban landscape might be filled with danger, yet they are where they can discover chosen kin, too." A Complex Dynamic of Love and Control Ronaldo is both a lover and a protective father figure to Wellington, but their relationship is derailed by possessiveness and financial instability. Dangers posed by shady figures in the underworld are overshadowed by the dread of government monitoring and imprisonment, epitomized by the constant sight of police officers on patrol. Baby is particularly impactful as a keen observation of the lost people who have been failed by the system. The film stands as a heartfelt examination into making ends meet, found community, and the search for identity within a demanding urban landscape.