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Evoking the urban restlessness and vibrancy of São Paulo, 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 (João Pedro Mariano) stands at a pivotal juncture; deserted by his parents, the impressionable young man seeks comfort in the arms of others.

On an night on the town with his boisterous group of queer and non-binary friends, Wellington encounters Ronaldo (actor Ricardo Teodoro), a hunky, charismatic hustler over double his age. Bathed in the pulsating light of a XXX cinema, their initial encounter is intimate and charged, with an hint of risk. Ronaldo swiftly initiates Wellington to the underground scene of prostitution and drug dealing.

A Portrait of Understanding Rather Than Exploitation

The film illustrates Wellington’s new life of crime with gentle sympathy as opposed to as a melodramatic morality play. Now using the alias Baby, he approaches his transactional encounters with brash fearlessness and touching naivety. To his customers, Wellington provides not just his youth and his body, but also instances of tenderness.

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 momentary bliss.

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

A Complicated Dynamic of Love and Control

Ronaldo is both a lover and a protective father figure to Wellington, but their connection is thrown off course by envy and monetary insecurity. Threats from nefarious characters in the shadow economy pale in comparison to the fear of government monitoring and incarceration, represented by the looming presence of police officers on patrol.

Baby is especially potent as a perceptive study of the forgotten souls who have slipped through the gaps the system. The film functions as a heartfelt examination into resilience, chosen family, and the quest for self within a unforgiving urban landscape.