After the break-up of his marriage, a racing driver sets out to get back his daughter - 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 Al finds her in the arms of another man, he takes his daughter, Georgie and heads for the bush, desperately hoping to hold on to the only family he has left.—Evan Yates

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

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".