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Evoking the urban restlessness and pulsating life of São Paulo, filmmaker Caetano's bracing drama centres on those who inhabit the outskirts of an ever-changing metropolis. Recently released from juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (the actor João Pedro Mariano) finds himself at a crossroads; deserted by his parents, the impressionable young man finds solace in the arms of others.

On an late-night excursion with his lively group of queer and non-binary friends, Wellington encounters Ronaldo (Ricardo Teodoro), a muscular, charming hustler more than twice his age. Bathed in the pulsating light of a neon-lit porn cinema, their initial encounter is sensuous and erotic, with an tinge of peril. Ronaldo promptly ushers Wellington to the underground scene of prostitution and narcotics trafficking.

A Study of Understanding Rather Than Exploitation

The film illustrates Wellington’s new life of crime with gentle sympathy rather than as a exploitative warning story. Now going by the name of Baby, he engages in his paid liaisons with brash fearlessness and poignant gullibility. To his customers, Wellington lends not only his youth and his body, but also fleeting acts of kindness.

In the feverish excitement of São Paulo, overflowing with busy lanes and vibrant storefronts, there’s a deep-seated solitude, as rootless people cling on to one another for temporary happiness.

"The streets can be filled with danger, yet they are where they can find their own family, too."

A Complicated Dynamic of Love and Control

Ronaldo is both a lover and a protective father figure to Wellington, but their bond is sabotaged by jealousy and financial instability. Intimidation from shady figures in the shadow economy seem minor next to the dread of institutional observation and imprisonment, symbolized by the constant sight of police officers in the area.

Baby is particularly impactful as an astute portrait of the disenfranchised individuals who have been failed by the established structure. The film functions as a poignant look into making ends meet, non-biological kinship, and the search for self within a unforgiving urban landscape.