Marcelo Caetano proves that it’s possible to tell a coming-of-age story without reaching for the usual patterns. In Baby he boldly offers us the story of Wellington – a boy who, after two years in a reformatory, tries to find himself in a reality where no one is waiting for him anymore. Caetano shows his desires, fears, and relationships with extraordinary attention, giving emotions a prominent role.
How does it happen that Wellington is left alone? Time, which for him stopped behind the walls of the reformatory, for his family flowed on. For reasons unknown to the protagonist, loved ones left home. He himself – lost, but still full of hope – returns to an empty place and an empty future. His desperate attempt to latch on to a new reality becomes his acquaintance with Ronald – a much older, mature man who introduces him to the world of sex work. Their turbulent relationship, built on the tension between care and exploitation, desire and dependence, becomes both a rescue and a threat for Wellington. It is then that Baby is born – a nickname that arises during one of his altercations with Ronald. Seemingly frivolous, it becomes a symbolic reflection of Wellington-his longing for closeness. Baby is a boy without a guardian, a child with a dangerously open interior.
The film’s greatest strength is João Pedro Mariano’s superb, mesmerizing performance. His acting is unforced, full of delicate gestures, meaningful glances, and moments of suspense. His Wellington is a character that lives on screen: lost, fragile, impulsive, hungry for tenderness and recognition. The music is perfectly suited to this emotional feast – it not only underscores the mood of the scenes, but becomes an extension of them, commenting on what the character can’t say. The soundtrack balances between pulsating club sounds and more intimate tracks. Baby vibrates, breathes, and pulsates with life.
The film’s world premiere took place during the Critics’ Week at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival – a section known for catching films that are frank, risky, and openly exploring the boundaries of cinematic language. This choice was no accident. Baby is a picture full of carnality, but also tenderness; a story of self-discovery in a world that doesn’t always offer ready answers. It is a cinema of intimacy – immersed in emotion and physicality, but completely free of cheap provocation. Caetano looks at youth – that of abandonment and loss – with exceptional sensitivity and social awareness.
The film Baby (directed by Marcelo Caetano) to be seen at the 18th Mastercard OFF CAMERA as part of the Boys Will Be Boys section, with SEXEDPL as a partner.
Marcelina Kłębek