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Capturing the metropolitan unease and vibrancy of São Paulo, Marcelo Caetano’s unflinching drama zooms in on those who inhabit the outskirts of an ever-changing metropolis. Recently released from juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (the actor João Pedro Mariano) faces a critical turning point; abandoned by his parents, the innocent young man discovers refuge in the arms of others.

On an night on the town with his rowdy group of queer and non-binary friends, Wellington crosses paths with Ronaldo (actor Ricardo Teodoro), a muscular, charming hustler more than twice his age. Shrouded in the wavering neon of a XXX cinema, their introductory rendezvous is sensuous and erotic, with an edge of danger. Ronaldo quickly introduces Wellington to the clandestine realm of the sex trade and narcotics trafficking.

A Study of Empathy Instead of Exploitation

Caetano depicts Wellington’s new life of crime with gentle sympathy instead of as a exploitative warning story. Now going by the name of Baby, he enters his commercial trysts with brash fearlessness and touching naivety. To his patrons, Wellington lends not only his youth and his body, but also moments of care.

In the electrifying chaos of São Paulo, filled with busy lanes and vibrant storefronts, there’s a gnawing loneliness, as unmoored souls hold fast 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 Complex Relationship of Affection and Power

Ronaldo is simultaneously a partner and a guardian-like mentor to Wellington, but their relationship is derailed by envy and monetary insecurity. Intimidation from shady figures in the shadow economy are overshadowed by the anxiety about government monitoring and incarceration, represented by the hovering figures of police officers making their rounds.

Baby is especially potent as an astute portrait of the forgotten souls who have fallen through the cracks the system. The film stands as a moving look into survival, found community, and the quest for purpose within a demanding urban landscape.