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Evoking the metropolitan unease and pulsating life of São Paulo, Marcelo Caetano’s gripping drama centres on those who inhabit the outskirts of an constantly evolving metropolis. Fresh out of juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (João Pedro Mariano) stands at a pivotal juncture; abandoned by his parents, the impressionable young man finds solace in the arms of others.

On an evening out with his rowdy group of gay and non-binary friends, Wellington crosses paths with Ronaldo (actor Ricardo Teodoro), a hunky, charismatic hustler significantly older than his age. Shrouded in the wavering neon of a adult movie theater, their initial encounter is intimate and charged, with an hint of risk. Ronaldo promptly ushers Wellington to the underground scene of sex work and selling drugs.

A Study of Empathy Instead of Exploitation

The director portrays Wellington’s new life of crime with tender empathy rather than as a melodramatic morality play. Now using the alias Baby, he approaches his transactional encounters with brash fearlessness and endearing innocence. To his customers, Wellington lends not only his youth and his body, but also fleeting acts of kindness.

In the feverish excitement of São Paulo, teeming with crowded backstreets and vibrant storefronts, there’s a gnawing loneliness, as rootless people cling on to one another for temporary happiness.

"The streets might be filled with danger, yet they are where they can forge familial bonds, too."

A Complex Relationship 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 nefarious characters in the shadow economy seem minor next to the dread of government monitoring and incarceration, represented by the looming presence of police officers in the area.

Baby is most powerful as a keen observation of the lost people who have slipped through the gaps the system. The film ultimately serves as a heartfelt look into resilience, non-biological kinship, and the search for identity within a unforgiving urban landscape.