Capturing the urban restlessness and dynamic spirit of São Paulo, director Marcelo Caetano's unflinching drama centres on those who live on the fringes of an constantly evolving metropolis. Fresh out of juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (the actor João Pedro Mariano) stands at a pivotal juncture; left behind by his parents, the wide-eyed young man seeks comfort 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 significantly older than his age. Shrouded in the flickering glow of a adult movie theater, their first meeting is physical and passionate, with an tinge of peril. Ronaldo quickly introduces Wellington to the underground scene of sex work and drug dealing.
The director portrays Wellington’s new life of crime with gentle sympathy as opposed to as a exploitative warning story. Now using the alias Baby, he engages in his paid liaisons with brash fearlessness and touching naivety. To his clients, Wellington lends not only his youth and his body, but also moments of care.
In the electrifying chaos of São Paulo, overflowing with busy lanes and colourful shopfronts, there’s a persistent isolation, as unmoored souls cling on to one another for momentary bliss.
"The streets can be riddled with risk, yet they are the place where they can find their own family, too."
Ronaldo is at once a romantic interest and a guardian-like mentor to Wellington, but their relationship is derailed by envy and monetary insecurity. Dangers posed by shady figures in the underworld pale in comparison to the dread of government monitoring and jail time, represented by the hovering figures of police officers on patrol.
Baby is especially potent as an astute portrait of the forgotten souls who have slipped through the gaps the system. The film ultimately serves as a moving examination into resilience, found community, and the search for identity within a unforgiving urban landscape.
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