Seven Minutes in Heaven (1985)

Director:

Linda Feferman

Writers:

Jane Bernstein (writer)
Linda Feferman (writer)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

When you're fifteen, being in love is more than just...

Plot:

Natalie Becker, a beautiful A-student, is staying home alone Together and apart, the three 15-year-olds learn much about life, maturity, and love.

Plot Keywords:

Stepfather | Baseball Player | High School | Love Triangle | High School Football

Cast

Jennifer Connelly	...	Natalie Becker
Byron Thames	...	Jeff Moran
Maddie Corman	...	Polly Franklin
Alan Boyce	...	James Casey
Michael Zaslow	...	Bob Becker
Polly Draper	...	Aileen Moran Jones
Marshall Bell	...	Gerry Jones
Billy Wirth	...	Zoo Knudsen
Terry Kinney	...	Bill the Photographer
Spalding Gray	...	Dr. Rodney
Michael Higgins	...	Senator Henry Peterson
Denny Dillon	...	Aunt Gail
Lauren Holly	...	Lisa
Paul Martell	...	Williams, White House Aide
Margo Skinner	...	Lenore Franklin

Also Known As:

Deslices de joventud (USA: Spanish title) (dubbed version)

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Colour:

Colour (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | USA:PG-13 | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Bloomfield, New Jersey, USA

Company:

Fifteen

Goofs:

Continuity: In the scene where Knudsen hits a home run, there are a few editing mistakes. The filming takes place in Shea Stadium. Well if the Generals were supposed to be the home team, they should have been wearing white uniforms. The other team, the Mets, where the ones wearing white. Also, the up close shot of the Mets pitcher, Dwight Gooden, clearly shows his number as 16. After the home run, the Mets pitcher is shown with number 76. Knudsen is a right handed batter, the distant shot of the home run, shows a left handed batter swinging.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Requiem for a Dream (2000)

Soundtrack:

Inner Logic

What the title means

The title of this film is taken from a party game called "Seven Minutes in Heaven." The game was popular among my husband's friends when he was in junior high school in Brooklyn, NY, and he describes it as something like "Spin-the-Bottle," "Lifesaver Relay," and other preteen kissing games. According to the rules, a boy's name and a girl's would be drawn, and the chosen ones ordered to get into a dark closet together and to stay there for seven minutes. In the meantime, there would be speculation among party guests as to whether or not the two had the nerve to hold hands, embrace, and/or kiss each other in the privacy of the closet. At the end of seven minutes, the game leader would say, "Time's up" or knock on the closet door, and the couple would emerge from the closet. After being quizzed by the other guests, the couple would have to admit what they had done during their "Seven Minutes in Heaven." Then other couples would be chosen to enter the closet until all the guests had participated. The couple who admitted to doing the most would be the winners of the game.

Such games have served as social "ice-breakers" for children and teens, but they can be embarrassing and intimidating to shy individuals. The film has been given this title because it deals with the teens' first experiences with crushes and romantic love.