🔗 Share this article Baby Review: A Sharp Portrait of LGBTQ+ Brazilian Hustlers Lost in the Established Order Channelling the urban restlessness and vibrancy of São Paulo, director Marcelo Caetano's bracing drama focuses on those who inhabit the outskirts of an ever-changing metropolis. Recently released from juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (the actor João Pedro Mariano) faces a critical turning point; deserted by his parents, the innocent young man discovers refuge in the arms of others. On an night on the town with his rowdy group of gay and non-binary friends, Wellington encounters Ronaldo (Ricardo Teodoro), a muscular, charming hustler more than twice 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 clandestine realm of the sex trade and drug dealing. A Portrait of Empathy Rather Than 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 enters his commercial trysts with swaggering confidence and endearing innocence. To his clients, Wellington lends not only his youth and his body, but also fleeting acts of kindness. In the feverish excitement of São Paulo, filled with crowded backstreets and vibrant storefronts, there’s a persistent isolation, as rootless people grasp at one another for momentary bliss. "The streets can be fraught with peril, yet they are the place where they can find their own family, too." A Complex Relationship of Affection and Power Ronaldo is at once a romantic interest and a guardian-like mentor to Wellington, but their bond is sabotaged by envy and monetary insecurity. Threats from nefarious characters in the underworld pale in comparison to the anxiety about institutional observation and imprisonment, symbolized by the constant sight of police officers in the area. Baby is most powerful as a keen observation of the disenfranchised individuals who have been failed by the system. The film functions as a poignant look into making ends meet, found community, and the pursuit of self within a demanding urban landscape.