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Channelling the metropolitan unease and dynamic spirit of São Paulo, Marcelo Caetano’s gripping drama zooms in on those who exist on the margins of an constantly evolving metropolis. Newly freed from juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (the actor João Pedro Mariano) faces a critical turning point; abandoned by his parents, the innocent young man seeks comfort in the arms of others.

On an night on the town with his lively group of queer and non-binary friends, Wellington crosses paths with Ronaldo (actor Ricardo Teodoro), a muscular, charming hustler over double his age. Shrouded in the wavering neon of a neon-lit porn cinema, their initial encounter is intimate and charged, with an hint of risk. Ronaldo quickly introduces Wellington to the shadowy world of the sex trade and narcotics trafficking.

A Portrait of Understanding Instead of Sensationalism

The director portrays Wellington’s new life of crime with tender empathy as opposed to as a exploitative warning story. Now going by the name of Baby, he engages in his paid liaisons with swaggering confidence and endearing innocence. To his customers, Wellington lends not only his youth and his body, but also fleeting acts of kindness.

In the hectic energy of São Paulo, overflowing with crowded backstreets and colourful shopfronts, there’s a persistent isolation, as adrift individuals cling on to one another for momentary bliss.

"The city might be filled with danger, yet they are the place where they can forge familial bonds, too."

A Complex Relationship of Affection and Power

Ronaldo is both a lover and a protective father figure to Wellington, but their relationship is derailed by envy and financial instability. Intimidation from shady figures in the underworld seem minor next to the dread of government monitoring and incarceration, represented by the looming presence of police officers in the area.

Baby is most powerful as an astute portrait of the forgotten souls who have been failed by the established structure. The film ultimately serves as a heartfelt exploration into making ends meet, chosen family, and the search for self within a demanding urban landscape.