Pyjama Girls

Imagine you are walking down the street, and as you’re walking you notice a group of girls coming your direction clad from head to toe in pyjamas.  I’m not talking your average I’m-showing-my-school-pride-cause-I’m-a-penniless-college-student sweats, but full on, brightly colored patterned pyjamas.  This has become an increasingly common occurrence in Dublin City over the last few years.  Girls from the “wrong side” of town rebelling against the norms of society and donning their Saturday morning best.  Some have posited that this act of rebellion has been spurred by society’s lack of concern for the girls, so in retaliation they refuse to care about society’s values.

The film reveals that it is more about the girl’s perception of their surroundings as an extension of their homelife.  These pyjama girls, as they are called, come from difficult family situations and have tried to create a community amongst themselves.

Pyjama Girls presents the chaotic friendship of teenagers Lauren and Tara as they navigate the trials of life, dressed all the while in their uniform of rebellion: pyjamas. Lauren’s future hangs in the balance as she takes part in street violence with rival teen gangs and faces expulsion from school. Balancing tenderness with hilarity, the film reveals the challenges that life throws her – from her addict mother to the disruptive world of the flats – and uncovers the crucial importance of her friendship with Tara.

What is so interesting about these girls is the response from the public, even fashion blogs such as Whisty Blogs Dublin Fashion are talking about this new clothing trend.  I remember a brief period in middle school where I wore my Old Navy pyjama pants to school for months, but the only response I got was a roll of the eyes from my mom as she shook her head in confusion.  ”Why would you want to wear your pyjama pants to school , they’ll get all dirty and then you can’t sleep in them anymore”  Mothers…  But for these girls and this city the sight of pyjamas in the broad light of day has stirred something much bigger.  The “respectable” middle class cannot understand why girls would dress this way, they see it as an indication of their lack of self-worth.  The Pyjama Girls simply see their style as a sort of anti-fashion, and see themselves as trendsetters ahead of their time; and maybe it has a little to do with society not caring about them too.

Director Maya Derrington became fascinated with the pyjama trend and wanted to learn more about the girls who were causing such a stir in Dublin.  ”The vitriol it provokes reminds me of the response to punk (Film Ireland).”  But punk was meant to be rebellious, the pyjamas seem to have acquired a projected rebellion, one felt more so by the outsiders of the trend than the insiders (the pyjama girls themselves).  In any case the story is an interesting one, and this documentary allows us to look inside the world of these girls, from their perspective.

Following this film will be a special Q&A with director Maya Derrington herself.  We are so pleased to have her join us for this festival.

You can purchase tickets to Pyjama Girls and other CIFF films here.

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