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Evoking the city's relentless energy and dynamic spirit of São Paulo, director Marcelo Caetano's unflinching drama centres on those who inhabit the outskirts of an ever-changing metropolis. Recently released from juvenile prison, 18-year-old Wellington (João Pedro Mariano) stands at a pivotal juncture; left behind by his parents, the wide-eyed young man seeks comfort in the arms of others.

On an late-night excursion with his boisterous group of gay and non-binary friends, Wellington encounters Ronaldo (actor Ricardo Teodoro), a muscular, charming hustler over double his age. Illuminated by the pulsating light of a adult movie theater, their initial encounter is sensuous and erotic, with an hint of risk. Ronaldo quickly introduces Wellington to the underground scene of the sex trade and selling drugs.

A Portrait of Empathy Rather Than Exploitation

The film illustrates Wellington’s new life of crime with tender empathy rather than as a exploitative warning story. Now adopting the moniker Baby, he enters his commercial trysts with cocky bravado and touching naivety. To his customers, Wellington offers more than his youth and his body, but also moments of care.

In the hectic energy of São Paulo, filled with crowded backstreets and brightly painted facades, there’s a persistent isolation, as adrift individuals hold fast to one another for fleeting joy.

"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 guardian-like mentor to Wellington, but their connection is thrown off course by jealousy and monetary insecurity. Threats from nefarious characters in the underworld are overshadowed by the dread of state surveillance and incarceration, represented by the hovering figures of police officers making their rounds.

Baby is especially potent as a keen observation of the disenfranchised individuals who have slipped through the gaps the social system. The film ultimately serves as a poignant exploration into resilience, found community, and the pursuit of identity within a demanding urban landscape.