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Channelling the metropolitan unease and vibrancy of São Paulo, Marcelo Caetano’s gripping drama focuses on those who inhabit the outskirts of an constantly evolving metropolis. Newly freed from juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (João Pedro Mariano) finds himself at a crossroads; deserted by his parents, the wide-eyed young man discovers refuge in the arms of others.

On an evening out with his rowdy group of LGBTQ+ and gender non-conforming friends, Wellington encounters Ronaldo (Ricardo Teodoro), a strapping, magnetic hustler more than twice his age. Shrouded in the flickering glow of a neon-lit porn cinema, their first meeting is sensuous and erotic, with an edge of danger. Ronaldo quickly introduces Wellington to the underground scene of prostitution and drug dealing.

A Portrait of Understanding Rather Than Exploitation

Caetano depicts Wellington’s new life of crime with gentle sympathy as opposed to as a melodramatic morality play. Now adopting the moniker Baby, he enters his commercial trysts with swaggering confidence and touching naivety. To his patrons, Wellington lends not only his youth and his body, but also fleeting acts of kindness.

In the electrifying chaos of São Paulo, overflowing with bustling alleyways and colourful shopfronts, there’s a gnawing loneliness, as rootless people grasp at one another for fleeting joy.

"The streets can be filled with danger, yet they are 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 bond is sabotaged by jealousy and financial instability. Intimidation from dubious individuals in the shadow economy seem minor next to the dread of state surveillance and jail time, represented by the constant sight of police officers on patrol.

Baby is particularly impactful as an astute portrait of the forgotten souls who have fallen through the cracks the system. The film functions as a poignant exploration into survival, non-biological kinship, and the pursuit of identity within a unforgiving urban landscape.