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Capturing the urban restlessness and vibrancy of São Paulo, filmmaker Caetano's unflinching drama zooms in on those who exist on the margins of an perpetually shifting metropolis. Newly freed from juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (João Pedro Mariano) finds himself at a crossroads; deserted by his parents, the impressionable young man discovers refuge in the arms of others.

On an late-night excursion with his boisterous group of gay and non-binary friends, Wellington meets Ronaldo (actor Ricardo Teodoro), a strapping, magnetic hustler over double his age. Bathed in the wavering neon of a XXX cinema, their introductory rendezvous is physical and passionate, with an edge of danger. Ronaldo quickly introduces Wellington to the underground scene of sex work and selling drugs.

A Portrait of Understanding Instead of Exploitation

Caetano depicts 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 cocky bravado and endearing innocence. To his patrons, Wellington provides not just his youth and his body, but also fleeting acts of kindness.

In the electrifying chaos of São Paulo, teeming with crowded backstreets and vibrant storefronts, there’s a persistent isolation, as unmoored souls cling on to one another for momentary bliss.

"The urban landscape are fraught with peril, yet they are also the space where they can forge familial bonds, too."

A Complex Dynamic of Affection and Power

Ronaldo is at once a romantic interest and a protective father figure to Wellington, but their bond is sabotaged by possessiveness and financial instability. Dangers posed by shady figures in the underworld pale in comparison to the dread of institutional observation and jail time, represented by the hovering figures of police officers making their rounds.

Baby is especially potent as a perceptive study of the forgotten souls who have slipped through the gaps the established structure. The film ultimately serves as a poignant exploration into resilience, found community, and the pursuit of purpose within a harsh urban landscape.