Anything Can Happen

Giorgi arrives for immigration inspection at Ellis Island and begins settling into life on New York's Lower East Side. His friend Nuri guides him toward work, but the day-to-day grind is tougher than expected. The city feels overwhelming, yet his resolve to build a new life is evident from the start.

Instead of an easy outdoor job, Giorgi and Nuri end up carrying buckets and pouring hot tar on rooftops. The grueling labor exposes him to immigrant hardship and the solidarity of other Georgians. He learns quickly that honest, hard work is the price of survival in America.

Giorgi struggles with English and practices troublesome consonants like W and V in the mirror. He studies daily and gradually improves through conversation and repetition. His growing command of language marks a turning point in his ability to connect with others.

Cited by police for supposedly picking flowers in Central Park, Giorgi refuses to admit guilt he didn't feel. In court, the arresting officer concedes no crime was actually witnessed. The judge is moved by his honesty and shakes Giorgi's hand, thanking him for brightening the courtroom.

The not-guilty verdict brings Helen Watson, a court reporter, into Giorgi's orbit. She is moved by his simple, articulate defense and invites him to her house to identify local folk music. A shared musical curiosity quickly blossoms into a fast friendship.

Giorgi learns that Helen knows his long-lost Uncle John, a Georgian chef in New York. He moves into Uncle John's bustling house, living with a lively group of fellow émigrés. The old-country connections give him a sense of belonging he hadn't felt in the city.

Giorgi dreams of becoming a U.S. citizen and gains courage in romance, encouraged by Helen's subtle affection. Helen calls him darling and asks him to share music, revealing his singing talent. The budding friendship hints at a future beyond the courtroom and common work.

Deciding to escape winter and seek new opportunities, Uncle John quits his job and leads the group to California. The Georgians decamp for Southern California, where they reconnect with a reclusive Georgian and start anew in a sunlit land. Giorgi leaves behind his old life for a different climate.

Giorgi buys a house and an orange farm, stepping into ownership rather than continuous labor. He embraces the farming life and builds a home in California, marking a clear shift from rooftops to roots and land. The dream of stability and prosperity starts to feel possible.

While Giorgi tends the farm, Helen takes a job and hints at distance, admitting she doesn't feel the familiar chill and isn't ready to marry without certainty. The aunt's practical advice about romance colors their dynamic and adds doubt to their plans. Giorgi remains hopeful but unsure.

A frost threatens the orange crop, prompting urgent action to save the harvest. Helen organizes the effort, ordering people to light fires and keep the warmth steady through the cold night. Giorgi is moved by her strength, deepening his resolve to propose.

During the frost, Giorgi asks Helen to marry him, and she says yes. News of the engagement ripples through their circle as Nuri and friends arrive from New York with congratulations. It marks the culmination of Giorgi's journey from immigrant laborer to settled partner.

Uncle John falls ill, and a judge administers a citizenship test, granting him citizenship before he dies shortly afterward. The moment underscores the costs and rewards of immigrant life as Giorgi looks toward a future with Helen. The film closes on a note of hopeful union and loss.