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Channelling the urban restlessness and vibrancy of São Paulo, filmmaker Caetano's bracing drama focuses on those who exist on the margins of an constantly evolving metropolis. Fresh out of juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (João Pedro Mariano) stands at a pivotal juncture; left behind by his parents, the impressionable young man finds solace in the arms of others.

On an night on the town with his rowdy group of queer and non-binary friends, Wellington meets Ronaldo (actor Ricardo Teodoro), a hunky, charismatic hustler more than twice his age. Illuminated by the pulsating light of a adult movie theater, their first meeting is intimate and charged, with an tinge of peril. Ronaldo swiftly initiates Wellington to the shadowy world of the sex trade and selling drugs.

A Portrait of Empathy Instead of Exploitation

The director portrays Wellington’s new life of crime with compassionate understanding rather than as a melodramatic morality play. Now using the alias Baby, he engages in his paid liaisons with brash fearlessness and endearing innocence. To his patrons, Wellington offers more than his youth and his body, but also moments of care.

In the feverish excitement of São Paulo, overflowing with crowded backstreets and vibrant storefronts, there’s a persistent isolation, as rootless people cling on to one another for momentary bliss.

"The city might be fraught with peril, yet they are where they can find their own family, too."

A Complicated Relationship of Affection and Power

Ronaldo is simultaneously a partner and a guardian-like mentor to Wellington, but their connection is thrown off course by jealousy and financial instability. Intimidation from dubious individuals in the underworld are overshadowed by the fear of institutional observation and jail time, represented by the looming presence of police officers making their rounds.

Baby is particularly impactful as a keen observation of the forgotten souls who have been failed by the social system. The film functions as a poignant examination into making ends meet, chosen family, and the search for identity within a demanding urban landscape.