As the film "Baby" takes off, the main character, Wellington, experiences the taste of liberation after spending almost two years in a youth detention center. His return to his humble neighborhood in São Paulo is marked by the discovery that his parents have left with no trace behind. Wellington is left in the care of a man who is twice his age, who confounds him with multifaceted roles – mentor, lover, business associate, and father figure.
Marcelo Caetano, the writer-director infuses the film with a sense of reality, particularly by leveraging hidden cameras and zoom lenses to capture the pulse of downtown São Paulo’s streets. Amidst all the grit and transactional sex, the movie’s core is a narrative of tender and sentimental compassion.
Wellington, portrayed by newcomer João Pedro Mariano, is abandoned by his disgraced policeman father who refuses to accept his homosexuality, and his mother who he is determined to locate. He attempts to reconnect with his companions, a queer group of friends who, due to an undescribed rejection or danger, are left to fend for themselves.
An unexpected encounter with Ronaldo, an older man, leads Wellington to a complex journey involving sex work, mentoring, and sidewalk survival tricks. Despite the undeniably present sexual attraction between them, their relationship develops on a much deeper emotional level.
Ronaldo’s dubious claims of high-end clients and his hazardous drug-dealing business contradicts his attempt to provide for his son, Allan, who lives a relatively comfortable life with Ronaldo’s ex-partner and her wife.
The essence of the film lays in its exploration of what constitutes a family. Whether it’s the bond within the street kids, Ronaldo’s efforts to care for his son, Wellington’s quest for his mother, or the complex relationship between Ronaldo and Wellington, the idea of family is portrayed in multiple facets.
Caetano and co-writer Gabriel Domingues delve into societal expectations that have historically forced men into closets, thereby, creating an empathetic character in Alexandre, another older man who enters Wellington’s life.
The film also presents an adversarial relationship with Ronaldo’s vindictive drug dealer, adding elements of tension and peril. Yet, the main conflict comes from questions surrounding loyalty and forgiveness, embodying resilience and maturation.
Mariano’s portrayal of Wellington, a teenager forced to grow up fast, and the complexities of Ronaldo’s character depicted by stage actor Ricardo Teodoro, paint a vivid picture of fractured hearts seeking healing. The film, filled with difficult truths, presents a narrative of resilience and healing.
