Dreaming Girls, a new local film set against the backdrop of Macau culture, is captivating audiences at Emperor Cinemas in October
The film Dreaming Girls follows the journey of Lin Aimei (played by Rachel Chui), who, under pressure from her mother, becomes a guitar virtuoso at a young age. After her mother’s passing, Lin joins the school’s Chinese orchestra, where she encounters Zhou Yiming (played by Julio Acconci), her Chinese orchestra teacher. Pressured to participate in an inter-school music competition, Lin uncovers unresolved grievances between her teacher and her mother, leading to a series of confrontations. Ultimately, their performance blends Chinese and Western styles, revealing the true essence of music as a source of inspiration rather than a means of defeating others.
Julio portrays Mr. Zhou, a struggling music teacher who seeks meaning in life through music education. Both in the film and in real life, Julio has experienced ups and downs. He describes how his destiny once left him feeling “complacent, losing himself, and then slapped him hard in his face”. Similarly, Mr. Zhou realises that being a teacher means shifting from a self-centred attitude to helping others and discovering new values.
“I don’t think I am the protagonist in the film, I am just a ‘problematic’ teacher. I am helping these students, but in the end, they also help me,” he observes.
Director Oliver Fa was not planning to cast Julio for the part originally. He recalls however, that during a chance encounter at a tea house, he discovered that one of the characters he was writing aligned perfectly with Julio. Simultaneously, Julio developed an interest in acting.
“The magical thing is that it seems like there was already a magnetic field connecting us while I was writing,” Fa shares
Julio admits he enjoyed playing traditional Chinese musical instruments and acting as a teacher in the movie.
“In the movie, the most important aspect of my character as a music teacher is to defeat my opponents, not only physically but also mentally, as taught in The Art of War (an ancient Chinese military treatise).”
Over time, Julio’s character evolves from using music to defeat people to using it to touch people’s hearts.
“I prefer to hear people say that my music has accompanied them during their darkest times and given them hope, rather than simply praising my skills.”
With a career spanning almost two decades in the entertainment industry, Julio has collaborated with a number of renowned actors, including Chow Yun-fat. However, he believes that comedy suits him best, as it requires less emotional investment. In Dreaming Girls his character’s life trajectory shares similarities with his own, resonating deeply with him. In real life, Julio also teaches music.
“I find joy in witnessing the growth of my students, and the spark in their eyes when they achieve what they couldn’t before. I feel happier when everyone improves together rather than achieving success alone.”
Julio reflects on his past belief that he always prioritised others, but upon deeper self-reflection, “I realised that I did many things when I was young solely for myself.”
He believes that finding meaning behind an endeavour is crucial. If the initial meaning is misguided and the situation doesn’t develop in the desired direction, one can lose their enthusiasm for everything. Julio hopes that people of his age can relate to his journey when reflecting on their own life path.
In recent years, a lot of TV shows that heavily emphasise winning and losing have gained popularity due to their entertaining nature and the opportunity they provide for aspiring artists to showcase their talents, gain exposure and pursue their dreams.
However, some argue that these competitions often prioritise marketability and commercial success over artistic expression and creativity. The focus on competition can lead to a narrow definition of talent and discourage unique or unconventional forms of artistry. Additionally, the pressure to win can create a hyper-competitive environment that may not foster a supportive and collaborative artistic atmosphere.
“To change your life in just two hours, this is our hope for this film,” says Line Producer Fernando Lourenço. “While a film may not necessarily change society, it can plant a seed that makes everyone start thinking: although there are standards in competition, art cannot be directly compared. Focusing only on winning and losing will increasingly deviate from the true meaning of art.”
In the film’s closing scene, Julio returns to his “old profession” and performs on piano, singing the ending song, Under the Vast Sky and Sea. Every member of the filming team present was impacted by the music – the infectiousness is what Julio demands of himself.
“In the past, when shooting music videos, I always strived for genuine playing and singing. I think if I can infect the people present, then I can truly capture it and bring it to the audience through the screen.”
This inspirational song, with lyrics by Jimmy Jim and composed by Julio’s brother Dino Acconci, pays tribute to Koma Wong Ka Kui of Beyond, a Hong Kong rock band formed in 1983 (one of their famous songs was The Boundless Sea and Sky).
“The Koma I understand is someone who loves to interact with others and is always welcoming new people into his band room. He doesn’t ignore others, but asks them what instrument they play, inviting them to jam together. During the process, he remains silent, but after you finish playing, you knows what your level is.”
“So, is he defeating others? No, he is inspiring them. Inspiring people through music, and then when he steps onto the stage, his music and lyrics can touch people’s hearts,” Julio says, pointing out that a good artist can inspire others by simply being themselves, without necessarily having to defeat others to achieve this.
