🔗 Share this article The Film Baby Review: An Astute Depiction of LGBTQ+ Brazilian Survivors Lost in the Established Order Evoking the metropolitan unease and dynamic spirit of São Paulo, filmmaker Caetano's gripping 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) stands at a pivotal juncture; deserted by his parents, the impressionable young man discovers refuge in the arms of others. On an late-night excursion with his boisterous group of gay and non-binary friends, Wellington encounters Ronaldo (Ricardo Teodoro), a hunky, charismatic hustler more than twice his age. Shrouded in the pulsating light of a neon-lit porn cinema, their initial encounter is sensuous and erotic, with an tinge of peril. Ronaldo quickly introduces Wellington to the underground scene of the sex trade and narcotics trafficking. A Portrait of Empathy Rather Than Exploitation Caetano depicts Wellington’s new life of crime with compassionate understanding instead of as a exploitative warning story. Now going by the name of Baby, he engages in his paid liaisons with brash fearlessness and endearing innocence. To his clients, Wellington lends not only his youth and his body, but also instances of tenderness. In the hectic energy of São Paulo, teeming with busy lanes and colourful shopfronts, there’s a persistent isolation, as unmoored souls grasp at one another for temporary happiness. "The streets are riddled with risk, yet they are the place where they can find their own family, too." A Complex Relationship of Love and Control Ronaldo is at once a romantic interest and a sheltering paternal presence to Wellington, but their bond is sabotaged by jealousy and financial instability. Intimidation from nefarious characters in the criminal underworld pale in comparison to the fear of state surveillance and imprisonment, symbolized by the constant sight of police officers making their rounds. Baby is especially potent as a perceptive study of the forgotten souls who have slipped through the gaps the social system. The film stands as a poignant examination into survival, chosen family, and the pursuit of purpose within a demanding urban landscape.