Baby | LGBTQ Short Film about Love

Baby is a queer coming-of-age love story that introduces us to the world of Ali, a Dominican-American teenager from the Bronx, on a Saturday afternoon.
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Baby
Directed by Jessie Levandov
www.malaforever.com/baby
"Opening with a seemingly innocuous scene, where a group of teens hang out on benches smoking and listen to music, the early imagery in Jessie Levandov’s coming-of-age short Baby immediately conjure assumptions about how these individuals must be somehow “tougher“ than your average American. It’s stereotypes and preconceived notions like these that Levandov is counting on. A tale of queer first love and the hurdles that young adults must overcome, Levandov’s eight-minute short is a surprisingly touching film that amplifies the quiet moments in an otherwise noisy urban jungle. More than just an ode to budding romance, Baby is a love letter to New York City and poetically confronts themes of LGBTQ identity and toxic masculinity with a delicate hand.
Capturing the youth culture in the city and drawing attention to the little details that make her characters so specific to it, Baby introduces us to the world of Ali, a Dominican-American teenager from the Bronx. Spending his Saturday afternoon focused on his romantic goals, as we follow our besotted protagonist Levandov’s cinéma vérité style makes his journey that much more compelling, crafting a believable portrait of a young person coming into their queerness for the first time. Of course, this is a realization that the viewer won’t have until the very end of the film, as Levandov works to build up our preconceptions as we observe how Ali is expected to behave first.
While the interactions that Ali has with his barber and a deli clerk seem harmless on the surface, their repercussions become apparent nonetheless. As we begin to realize that Ali has been portraying a more masculine version of himself to meet the status quo, his fearlessness to seek out love feels even more empowering. Frankly, it was hard not to break into a toothy smile from the sheer joy of Ali’s reciprocated love on the basketball court. Call me a romantic, but I very nearly swooned!
“Baby engages themes of toxic masculinity from my perspective as a queer femme,” Levandov explains as we discuss the aims of her film. “It is an ode to the youth I’ve taught. It is an ode to how queer folks have to navigate shame while coming into our queerness and desire, clawing our way out of harmful narratives that prevent us from being our most authentic selves”.
“It is an ode to all queer youth, past, present and future, who seek joy in a world that tells us in so many ways that we don’t belong”, Levandov adds. “Our stories don’t always end in a cinematic triumph - it’s often the quiet victory of holding a hand, or playing a game of basketball, that carves out the space for intimacy, tenderness and joy in our lives. I wanted to convey a quiet, personal victory - and show through this quiet story, how powerful one moment can be, when we are able to choose ourselves and connection with people we love.”
“I wanted to tell a tender, queer coming-of-age love story that brings you into the world of this particular group of young folks”
Levandov taught filmmaking in New York City public high schools for almost a decade. Baby was therefore inspired by, and produced in collaboration with Levandov’s high school students during her final months as a teacher. “I adore teenagers, I think they’re brilliant”, she declares as we discuss the influences behind her filmmaking. “They have so much to say, and it’s such a specific and tender time in one’s life where you’re really trying to figure out how to carve out space for yourself in order to be who you are. I wanted to tell a tender, queer coming-of-age love story that brings you into the world of this particular group of young folks in New York City”.
Performed by a cast of non-actors, Levandov got former students, and friends of former students, to play the characters in Baby. To ensure her story felt genuine, the filmmaker wrote a script with action, beats and loose dialogue, so her actors could improvise and inject a bit of themselves into their roles. The effect is a low key, extremely authentic story that feels believable in a truly tangible way. This level of realism, coupled with her aforementioned use of cinéma vérité, also helps to bring gravity to some of the heavy subject matter in Baby. - S/W Curator Chelsea Lupkin
Reproduced on this channel with the permission of the filmmakers.

[@chrissynova77]

That conversation in the barbershop is all too real. Whenever I used to go get my haircut and the barber asked me if I had a date or something I would make up some lie like that. When in actuality I was going out with a guy. You just don't want the questions or the pressure because it still Taboo in most communities

[@RonnelB.]

My first boyfriend John was Jennifer! I hear ya. I always wanted to be honest but didn't have the inner strength to do so. Now, I'm married and ain't hiding the most important person in my life from anyone.

[@daniloalves6677]

So simple, so direct, it doesn't have much dialogue, but at the same time says so much, better than a bunch of movies out there.

[@edwardnelson520]

So true

[@davidwithers1215]

Subtle, gentle, beautiful. More please.

[@mxpujasingh]

literally cried when he gave him the rose. such a sweet and tender moment w the perfect buildup. grateful to see more queer love on my screens. 💞

[@alchemy0028]

Wow. What a pleasant surprise, the ending was a very sweet and tender moment, very short movie but done very well.

[@kayray4858]

Oh thank god nothing bad happened 🙏🏻❤️

[@dclassof84]

I know!!!!

[@manolytovivi3090]

True 😔

[@elleguamuertelove1849]

Welcome to New York city I wish us gay men have more freedom to express ourselves as Lesbians do, especially black and Latinos

[@skwagwok4097]

Stop making me cry in the middle of work 😭

[@shubhampaul4664]

it's a very beautiful short film. well done.

[@kyrab7914]

V well done. You can tell from the beginning that he's into the other guy. But it's only an inkling until bam! Suspicions confirmed. I also love that despite his talk they're like just holding hands and playing basketball. V queer v teenager/young adult experience

[@ernestorivas2495]

Absolutely beautiful and unexpected. Amazing soundtrack. Bravo!

[@ManuRoma]

Adorable. An that ending... Wow. Love the song too!

[@mr.mrs.d.7015]

Ha! I was just getting ready to look up the song too.

[@lauraetter21524]

Can't believe I now just found this, so short and sweet 🥰

[@asiavernacobb8643]

Totally agree with you.😊✌🏼✌🏼

[@edwardnelson520]

Very

[@johnbergman2746]

Nicely done the music makes it seem so chill..and beautiful

[@scotzer]

Lovely. That put a smile on my face. There was a lot left unsaid, but I love how the film used that, and showed how the two young men navigated to their moment at the end. Well done! Congratulations!

[@craigbrush5784]

Lovely film, really well done.

[@asiavernacobb8643]

Beautiful ending... Awesome short film well done. I loved it!!❤❤❤❤😊✌🏼✌🏼

[@luandareisoliveira8551]

How adorable is the love. ❤️

[@albertcrivelli5186]

Wow! That's finallly one real image of the USA! Congratulations for the courage of make it!

[@marcusconley8059]

I like part of this flim that he give that dude flower that so cute how there hands together that so adorable 😁😁😁🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈

[@kendrickf614]

Beautiful… I Already Saw The Love When He Lit It 💨 Up For Him…. 🙏🏿❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@ChelseaLupkin]

I absolutely love this short! Gah! So sweet

[@darryls2141]

there are so many bondings like this out there-bruhs care about each other- energy is released and captured. should not be classified under LGBT- just genuine care-

[@innersanctum3338]

OMG. That was so beautiful, I love this movie.

[@RICHMOND94114]

You guys, this is a great little film. xxoo

[@oeleveoleve.7562]

simple and short. really sweet .

[@maybehere_]

yo as a dominican i can def relate 😭

[@FabledVerse]

This was so gentle - loved it ❤

[@shortoftheweek]

Couldn't agree more, it's such a tender film.

[@tonyholcombe8193]

Ty for the innocence of Love

[@awoFalase]

That was dope!

[@eiden2870]

Ist so cute wow cool short film ❤️

[@ilikewhenyoushine]

love this song so much. so tender and sweet

[@davidbrown1566]

So chill and lovely…..❤

[@skadoosh2000]

small secret, big love

[@nick0340]

Beautiful !!! Watch it !!!

[@stuff1784]

I wanted to see more intimate moments between the two guys ❤❤

[@renenunez1254]

The fingers touching was a hot scene...clears the path to many possibilities.

[@keithss67]

Stand clear of the closing doors please

[@magnetdesignandadver]

perfectly made

[@MarcusVinicius-we2pg]

Love always beats hate!

[@21josextrix]

OMG dominican actors... 😍

[@justbobby_iam5015]

This was a great romanticized short film, for the DL man. 🎥 Cause they really will do alot to not to get caught… 😒but Son. How far they live from each other/the hang out spot? 😧🤭 Bro walked to the barbershop, road a train, walked some more, walked to a store, walked some more… and still wasn’t at the 2nd park yet😮‍💨 Dis must go down once a month lol Anyway, shout out to the str8 men. Who assume every man who walks in the room is straight 😅✌🏾

[@shigonbore]

loved this! real

[@keithss67]

Best thing about this video is the boneless spare rib tips

[@johnpowers1638]

Really well done.

[@samandros3451]

Sweet. And, yeah, not all gay men are rich, white guys.

[@mr.mrs.d.7015]

💖💖

[@myluverboi7753]

❤❤

[@starrwetzel4446]

Sweet 😋

[@michaelstyles186]

rrrrrr so sweet

[@sanderdans]

❤️‍🔥

[@beatrizarevalos5597]

Me gustó él mensaje pero me hubiera gustado un piquito ahí ♥️👬👅🤘✌️(^_-)

[@ATrueLibra]

❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@keithss67]

Dang! What’s with that dudes fingernails

[@jeremys3951]

Wtf 😬

[@cynthiajones4332]

Truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word (Jesus) and believes him who sent me (God) has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.John 5:24 Are people born gay? Do people choose to commit adultery/fornicate or are they born with a tendency to sin? Please think about it. Repent/believe before the rapture. Out of love Jesus died for you, live for Him. In love and care for your welfare

[@binghamguevara6814]

didn't watch. can't watch. too traumatic.

[@dragonrider9051]

Gross

[@tryitworks]

Yeah, you and your life

[@avisch6758]

Then why did you click on it. You can read, right?

[@dragonrider9051]

@@avisch6758 lol, I can, it's why I clicked and wrote what I wrote. Deal with it. Ya bundle of stick's

[@manuelka15]

take your hate somewhere else

[@dragonrider9051]

@@manuelka15 it's not hate, it's disgusting. Take my opinion like I take yours.

[@ismewhat1234]

Looks like a whack movie👎 I couldn't you watch this😂