Plot

After the breakup of his marriage, a racing driver sets out to get his daughter back--at any cost.

Al Shaw's life revolves around motor racing and his back-country junkyard, the "Smash Palace". His French wife Jacqui doesn't appreciate the lack of attention due to Al's obsession with cars. When he finds her in the arms of another man, he takes his daughter Georgie and heads for the bush, desperately hoping to hold onto the only family he has left.—Evan Yates

Once an international Grand Prix racing star, Al returns to New Zealand with his French wife Jacqui and young daughter Georgie to run his father's car-wrecking yard. Lonely and unhappy, Jacqui begins an affair with Al's best friend and leaves the marriage. Terrified by Al's violence and behavior, Jacqui tries to stop him from seeing their daughter Georgie. Panicked, Al kidnaps Georgie. How will they escape?—Anonymous

"Smash Palace" is a Kiwi cinema classic and launched Roger Donaldson's American career. Al Shaw (a brilliant, brooding Bruno Lawrence) is a racing car driver who now runs a wrecker's yard in the shadow of Mount Ruapehu. His French wife Jacqui is unhappy there and leaves him, taking up with Al's best mate. When she restricts Al's access to his young daughter, his frustration explodes and he goes bush with the girl, desperate not to lose her too. "There's no road back" runs the tagline. New Yorker critic Pauline Kael called the film "amazingly accomplished".—Anonymous