🔗 Share this article Baby Review: An Astute Depiction of LGBTQ+ Brazilian Hustlers Lost in the System Evoking the urban restlessness and vibrancy of São Paulo, Marcelo Caetano’s unflinching drama zooms in on those who inhabit the outskirts of an ever-changing metropolis. Fresh out of juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (João Pedro Mariano) faces a critical turning point; abandoned by his parents, the wide-eyed young man finds solace in the arms of others. On an late-night excursion with his lively group of gay and non-binary friends, Wellington crosses paths with Ronaldo (actor Ricardo Teodoro), a strapping, magnetic hustler over double his age. Illuminated by the pulsating light of a neon-lit porn cinema, their introductory rendezvous is sensuous and erotic, with an tinge of peril. Ronaldo swiftly initiates Wellington to the underground scene of sex work and drug dealing. A Study of Understanding Instead of Sensationalism The director portrays Wellington’s new life of crime with gentle sympathy instead of as a sensationalist cautionary tale. Now using the alias Baby, he enters his commercial trysts with cocky bravado and endearing innocence. To his patrons, Wellington lends not only his youth and his body, but also fleeting acts of kindness. In the feverish excitement of São Paulo, overflowing with crowded backstreets and vibrant storefronts, there’s a persistent isolation, as rootless people grasp at one another for fleeting joy. "The streets might be riddled with risk, yet they are the place where they can discover chosen kin, too." A Complex Relationship of Love and Control Ronaldo is at once a romantic interest and a protective father figure to Wellington, but their relationship is derailed by envy and economic precarity. Dangers posed by dubious individuals in the shadow economy pale in comparison to the anxiety about government monitoring and jail time, symbolized by the looming presence of police officers in the area. Baby is particularly impactful as a keen observation of the lost people who have fallen through the cracks the social system. The film ultimately serves as a poignant examination into survival, found community, and the pursuit of self within a harsh urban landscape.