Ordinary Miracles

A powerful and tough judge who chooses to take Sally in, Kay uses her authority to create space for care and growth. Her stern exterior masks a capacity for warmth and stubborn resolve to protect vulnerable young people. She navigates tension with her ex-husband while trying to keep Sally from slipping back into danger. Her willingness to redefine family drives much of the film's hopeful arc.

A bright but troubled teenager cycling through foster care, Sally uses wit and chess to cope with abandonment and frustration. Her initial distrust gives way to loyalty as she connects with Kay and begins to see a possible, stable future. Her rebellious streak leads to risky choices, testing the limits of care and accountability. She ultimately seeks belonging and a second chance with her father and Kay.

Sally's biological father, Jim Powell, is a widowed man who lives nearby and is wary of Kay's involvement. He reacts with anger and distancing when told about Sally, revealing his own grief and protective instincts. Over time he starts to connect with Kay and Sally, becoming part of a fragile but growing family circle. His presence anchors Sally's sense of possibility and reconciliation.

Kay's ex-husband, a successful figure who is about to remarry a younger woman, adding friction to Kay's empathy for Sally. He embodies a complicated, adult world where love, pride, and consequence intersect. His reactions and choices influence Kay's sense of duty and Sally's options for the future. He remains a realistic, nuanced foil rather than a simple antagonist.

The late wife of Jim Powell and Sally's mother figure in legacy terms; her grave becomes a focal point for the newly forming family. Though absent in life, her memory anchors the trio's commitment to a hopeful future and serves as a symbolic space for healing and reconciliation.