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Channelling the city's relentless energy and dynamic spirit of São Paulo, Marcelo Caetano’s gripping drama centres on those who live on the fringes of an perpetually shifting metropolis. Recently released from juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (João Pedro Mariano) finds himself at a crossroads; abandoned by his parents, the innocent young man seeks comfort in the arms of others.

On an late-night excursion with his rowdy group of gay and non-binary friends, Wellington meets Ronaldo (Ricardo Teodoro), a strapping, magnetic hustler significantly older than his age. Bathed in the pulsating light of a adult movie theater, their initial encounter is physical and passionate, with an edge of danger. Ronaldo swiftly initiates Wellington to the shadowy world of prostitution and drug dealing.

A Portrait of Understanding Rather Than Sensationalism

The director portrays Wellington’s new life of crime with tender empathy rather than as a exploitative warning story. Now going by the name of Baby, he enters his commercial trysts with cocky bravado and poignant gullibility. To his patrons, Wellington offers more than his youth and his body, but also fleeting acts of kindness.

In the electrifying chaos of São Paulo, filled with busy lanes and vibrant storefronts, there’s a deep-seated solitude, as unmoored souls hold fast to one another for temporary happiness.

"The streets can be fraught with peril, yet they are the place where they can find their own family, too."

A Complex Dynamic of Love and Control

Ronaldo is simultaneously a partner and a sheltering paternal presence to Wellington, but their bond is sabotaged by jealousy and economic precarity. Intimidation from nefarious characters in the shadow economy seem minor next to the anxiety about institutional observation and imprisonment, symbolized by the constant sight of police officers in the area.

Baby is especially potent as an astute portrait of the forgotten souls who have been failed by the social system. The film functions as a heartfelt examination into resilience, non-biological kinship, and the pursuit of identity within a unforgiving urban landscape.