Seven Minutes in Heaven

Seven Minutes in Heaven is a 1986 American teen comedy drama film co-written and directed by Linda Feferman (in her only full-length directorial film). It stars Jennifer Connelly, Byron Thames, and Maddie Corman as three teenage friends in Ohio coping with life and love. The film was shot in 1984 but did not get a release until May 9, 1986. It was sent straight to cable TV, where it acquired a following. At the 1986 Sundance Film Festival where it premiered, it received a special merit for outstanding achievement. Plot Three teenage friends live in Ohio—high school sophomores Natalie, Jeff, and Polly. Jeff has trouble getting along with his stepfather Gerry. After an argument, he storms out of the house and goes to Natalie's house. Natalie her mother is deceased, agrees to let Jeff stay at her house for a few days while her father is away on business. Natalie and Jeff's friend Polly is upset that her crush, James Casey, is pursuing Natalie and not her. But she then meets professional baseball player and underwear model Zoo Knudsen. They meet and talk and, while trying to avoid Zoo's obsessive fan, take cover in a lingerie store. Posing as an engaged couple, Zoo buys Polly a négligée. Later that night, they make out in his car. Zoo asks her her age; she says she is 18. Before driving off, Zoo tells Polly to come to New York City and watch one of his games. Polly later writes Zoo a fan letter and puts the négligée under her pillow. Jeff's mother talks to his football coach and convinces him to kick Jeff off the team as punishment for leaving home. She also runs into Jeff and tries to convince him to come home, but he refuses. Natalie and Casey begin to spend more time together. One evening, Polly goes over to Natalie's house. She finds Jeff sitting outside in a sleeping bag, to give Natalie and Casey some privacy. Polly then leaves, incorrectly assuming that Natalie and Casey are having sex. Later, Polly hears back from Zoo in the mail and receives a signed photo, but is disappointed that the letter is a typed, generic fan-response letter. Frustrated over Zoo, and jealous of Natalie's relationship with Casey (and believing Natalie is no longer a virgin), Polly gets into a fight with Natalie. Natalie storms out of Polly's house. Polly then tries to seduce Jeff, to lose her virginity and become sexually-experienced, before she meets Zoo again. They start to get intimate, but Jeff walks out when Polly talks about Zoo.