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Channelling the city's relentless energy and dynamic spirit of São Paulo, director Marcelo Caetano's gripping drama focuses on those who exist on the margins of an constantly evolving metropolis. Recently released from juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (the actor João Pedro Mariano) finds himself at a crossroads; left behind by his parents, the wide-eyed young man finds solace in the arms of others.

On an night on the town with his lively group of LGBTQ+ and gender non-conforming friends, Wellington encounters Ronaldo (actor Ricardo Teodoro), a strapping, magnetic hustler more than twice his age. Shrouded in the wavering neon of a neon-lit porn cinema, their initial encounter is physical and passionate, with an tinge of peril. Ronaldo quickly introduces Wellington to the clandestine realm of prostitution and narcotics trafficking.

A Portrait of Understanding Rather Than Sensationalism

Caetano depicts Wellington’s new life of crime with compassionate understanding as opposed to as a sensationalist cautionary tale. Now going by the name of Baby, he approaches his transactional encounters with cocky bravado and touching naivety. To his patrons, Wellington lends not only his youth and his body, but also instances of tenderness.

In the electrifying chaos of São Paulo, overflowing with bustling alleyways and brightly painted facades, there’s a persistent isolation, as rootless people grasp at one another for momentary bliss.

"The city might be riddled with risk, yet they are also the space where they can find their own family, too."

A Complex Dynamic of Love and Control

Ronaldo is at once a romantic interest and a sheltering paternal presence to Wellington, but their connection is thrown off course by jealousy and economic precarity. Threats from shady figures in the criminal underworld seem minor next to the anxiety about 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 been failed by the social system. The film functions as a moving look into making ends meet, found community, and the quest for self within a harsh urban landscape.