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Evoking the metropolitan unease and dynamic spirit of São Paulo, filmmaker Caetano's gripping drama centres 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; deserted by his parents, the impressionable young man seeks comfort in the arms of others.

On an late-night excursion with his boisterous group of gay and non-binary friends, Wellington encounters Ronaldo (actor Ricardo Teodoro), a strapping, magnetic hustler over double his age. Illuminated by the pulsating light of a neon-lit porn cinema, their introductory rendezvous is intimate and charged, with an edge of danger. Ronaldo quickly introduces Wellington to the clandestine realm of sex work and selling drugs.

A Study of Empathy Instead of Sensationalism

The film illustrates Wellington’s new life of crime with compassionate understanding instead of as a melodramatic morality play. Now going by the name of Baby, he engages in his paid liaisons with brash fearlessness and endearing innocence. To his patrons, Wellington provides not just his youth and his body, but also instances of tenderness.

In the feverish excitement of São Paulo, overflowing with bustling alleyways and colourful shopfronts, there’s a deep-seated solitude, as rootless people hold fast to one another for temporary happiness.

"The urban landscape can be filled with danger, yet they are the place where they can forge familial bonds, too."

A Complex Dynamic of Love and Control

Ronaldo is at once a romantic interest and a guardian-like mentor to Wellington, but their bond is sabotaged by possessiveness and monetary insecurity. Intimidation from nefarious characters in the underworld pale in comparison to the anxiety about government monitoring and incarceration, symbolized by the looming presence of police officers in the area.

Baby is particularly impactful as an astute portrait of the forgotten souls who have fallen through the cracks the system. The film functions as a poignant look into making ends meet, non-biological kinship, and the pursuit of self within a demanding urban landscape.