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Evoking the urban restlessness and pulsating life of São Paulo, director Marcelo Caetano's unflinching drama zooms in 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) stands at a pivotal juncture; left behind by his parents, the wide-eyed young man discovers refuge in the arms of others.

On an late-night excursion with his boisterous group of queer and non-binary friends, Wellington crosses paths with Ronaldo (actor Ricardo Teodoro), a hunky, charismatic hustler significantly older than his age. Illuminated by the wavering neon of a XXX cinema, their introductory rendezvous is sensuous and erotic, with an tinge of peril. Ronaldo quickly introduces Wellington to the underground scene of prostitution and drug dealing.

A Study of Empathy Rather Than Exploitation

The director portrays Wellington’s new life of crime with tender empathy instead of as a exploitative warning story. Now using the alias Baby, he engages in his paid liaisons with swaggering confidence and poignant gullibility. To his customers, Wellington offers more than his youth and his body, but also instances of tenderness.

In the feverish excitement of São Paulo, teeming with busy lanes and brightly painted facades, there’s a persistent isolation, as rootless people cling on to one another for fleeting joy.

"The urban landscape are fraught with peril, yet they are the place where they can discover chosen kin, too."

A Complex Relationship of Affection and Power

Ronaldo is both a lover and a sheltering paternal presence to Wellington, but their bond is sabotaged by possessiveness and financial instability. Dangers posed by dubious individuals in the underworld seem minor next to the dread of state surveillance and incarceration, represented by the constant sight of police officers making their rounds.

Baby is particularly impactful as a perceptive study of the lost people who have fallen through the cracks the system. The film ultimately serves as a moving exploration into making ends meet, non-biological kinship, and the pursuit of purpose within a harsh urban landscape.