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Channelling the metropolitan unease and dynamic spirit of São Paulo, director Marcelo Caetano's bracing drama centres on those who inhabit the outskirts of an constantly evolving metropolis. Fresh out of juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (the actor João Pedro Mariano) finds himself at a crossroads; deserted by his parents, the wide-eyed young man finds solace in the arms of others.

On an evening out with his boisterous group of gay and non-binary friends, Wellington crosses paths with Ronaldo (Ricardo Teodoro), a muscular, charming hustler over double his age. Illuminated by the pulsating light of a neon-lit porn cinema, their introductory rendezvous is physical and passionate, with an hint of risk. Ronaldo quickly introduces Wellington to the underground scene of sex work and drug dealing.

A Study of Understanding Rather Than Exploitation

The director portrays Wellington’s new life of crime with compassionate understanding as opposed to as a melodramatic morality play. Now going by the name of Baby, he engages in his paid liaisons with brash fearlessness and poignant gullibility. To his clients, Wellington offers more than his youth and his body, but also fleeting acts of kindness.

In the electrifying chaos of São Paulo, filled with busy lanes and brightly painted facades, there’s a gnawing loneliness, as adrift individuals grasp at one another for temporary happiness.

"The streets might be riddled with risk, yet they are where they can discover chosen kin, too."

A Complicated Relationship of Affection and Power

Ronaldo is both a lover and a guardian-like mentor to Wellington, but their relationship is derailed by jealousy and monetary insecurity. Threats from dubious individuals in the shadow economy seem minor next to the anxiety about government monitoring and jail time, epitomized by the hovering figures of police officers in the area.

Baby is most powerful as an astute portrait of the forgotten souls who have slipped through the gaps the social system. The film ultimately serves as a moving examination into survival, non-biological kinship, and the pursuit of identity within a demanding urban landscape.