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Capturing the city's relentless energy and vibrancy of São Paulo, filmmaker Caetano's bracing drama focuses on those who inhabit the outskirts of an constantly evolving metropolis. Newly freed from juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (the actor João Pedro Mariano) finds himself at a crossroads; abandoned by his parents, the impressionable young man seeks comfort in the arms of others.

On an late-night excursion with his lively group of queer and non-binary friends, Wellington meets Ronaldo (Ricardo Teodoro), a hunky, charismatic hustler over double his age. Shrouded in 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 clandestine realm of sex work and drug dealing.

A Study of Understanding Instead of Sensationalism

The director portrays Wellington’s new life of crime with gentle sympathy rather than as a exploitative warning story. Now using the alias Baby, he enters his commercial trysts with cocky bravado and touching naivety. To his clients, Wellington lends not only his youth and his body, but also moments of care.

In the hectic energy of São Paulo, filled with busy lanes and colourful shopfronts, there’s a gnawing loneliness, as unmoored souls grasp at one another for fleeting joy.

"The city can be riddled with risk, yet they are where they can forge familial bonds, too."

A Complicated Relationship of Affection and Power

Ronaldo is both a lover and a guardian-like mentor to Wellington, but their bond is sabotaged by possessiveness and monetary insecurity. Threats from shady figures in the criminal underworld pale in comparison to the fear of state surveillance and incarceration, represented by the constant sight of police officers making their rounds.

Baby is most powerful as an astute portrait of the lost people who have fallen through the cracks the established structure. The film ultimately serves as a heartfelt look into survival, non-biological kinship, and the quest for self within a demanding urban landscape.