Anything Is Possible (2013) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Nathan runs away because Child Care Services arrives to take him into custody after his mother goes missing in Japan. Fearing he will be separated from his family and placed in the system, Nathan decides to flee before George can explain the truth about his paternity. He hopes running away will buy him time to find answers about his family situation.

Foreshadowing: Earlier hints of instability at home, combined with the shocking news about his mother, set the stage for Nathan's desperate decision to flee.

• nathan runs away
• child custody
• detroit
• missing mother
• family separation

Nathan discovers that George is not his biological father after learning about his mother's disappearance. This revelation comes during a time of extreme emotional upheaval, adding to his sense of instability and confusion about his identity. The timing amplifies his fear of losing his family and being taken away.

Foreshadowing: The mystery surrounding Nathan's parentage is hinted at when the film introduces the paternity question as part of the family's underlying secrets.

• nathan biological father
• george paternity
• family secret
• identity

Captain Miles is a homeless Iraq War veteran living on the streets of Detroit. When Nathan runs away, Miles encounters him and guides him toward shelter at Evelyn Strasser's home. While his initial motives appear murky, he ultimately acts as a bridge to get Nathan to safety, though he tricks Nathan into going to Evelyn's house rather than offering direct help.

Foreshadowing: Miles' background as a war veteran hints at his understanding of loss and hardship, which motivates his decision to assist a runaway child.

• captain miles
• iraq war veteran
• homeless detroit
• street child help

Jesse, Evelyn Strasser's daughter, hides Nathan in the basement after discovering him on the streets or through Captain Miles' arrangement. Jesse feels compassion for the runaway boy and wants to protect him from being taken by Child Care Services. Her secret act of kindness demonstrates her willingness to bend rules to help someone in need.

Foreshadowing: Jesse's hidden compassion is revealed when she quietly supports Nathan before her mother learns of his presence.

• jesse hides nathan
• basement
• secret
• child compassion
• evelyn strasser daughter

The orphanage faces closure due to a severe lack of funds. After Child Care Services places Nathan in the facility, it becomes clear that the home cannot stay operational without financial support. The children and staff must find a way to raise money quickly or face being scattered to different locations.

Foreshadowing: Earlier tension around Nathan's custody situation sets up the institutional pressure that leads to the orphanage's financial crisis.

• orphanage closure
• funding crisis
• detroit orphanage
• child services
• no funds

The children organize a fundraising concert and promote Nathan as a musical prodigy to attract attention and donations. Nathan delivers a powerful musical performance that resonates with the audience and draws significant community support. The money raised from the concert is enough to keep the orphanage afloat for the time being.

Foreshadowing: Earlier hints of Nathan's musical talent铺垫 his ability to become the centerpiece of the fundraising effort.

• concert fundraiser
• orphanage saved
• musical performance
• nathan talent
• community support

Nathan's mother, Margaret Peters, is revealed to still be alive at the film's conclusion. She had been missing after a rescue mission in Japan, leading everyone to believe she was dead. The film ends with a joyful reunion between Nathan, his mother, and the rest of the family.

Foreshadowing: The film's hopeful tone and the unresolved mystery of the mother's disappearance foreshadow her eventual return.

• margaret peters alive
• mother returns
• reunion
• missing japan
• family reunion

Evelyn Strasser, a philanthropist, decides to help Nathan after learning that her daughter Jesse has been hiding him in the basement. Though initially surprised, Evelyn's compassionate nature leads her to take decisive action to reunite Nathan with his father George. She recognizes the boy's desperate situation and chooses to support him rather than turn him away.

Foreshadowing: Evelyn's role as a caring but practical woman is established early, showing she will ultimately do what is right for the child.

• evelyn strasser helps nathan
• philanthropist
• reunion with father
• orphan shelter

Nathan is taken into custody because his mother, an Army lieutenant, has been missing for an extended period in Japan, leaving no legal guardian available. Child Care Services intervenes to place him in the system, despite his father George being present. The threat of separation drives Nathan to run away in the first place.

Foreshadowing: The arrival of Child Care Services early in the film establishes the institutional threat that drives the main conflict.

• child care services custody
• nathan taken
• army lieutenant mother
• legal guardian

Nathan's extraordinary musical talent becomes the centerpiece of the orphanage's fundraising concert. The children promote him as a prodigy to draw crowds and generate donations. His powerful performance not only raises enough money to keep the orphanage open but also establishes him as a symbol of hope for the entire facility.

Foreshadowing: Earlier discovery of Nathan's musical prodigy status during his reunion with George hints at this pivotal role.

• nathan musical talent
• prodigy
• orphanage saved
• concert performance
• hopeful ending