SMASH PALACE
New Zealand, 1982, 100 minutes, Colour.
Bruno Lawrence, Anna Jemison. Greer Robson.
Directed by Roger Donaldson.
Smash Palace was written, produced and directed by Roger Donaldson, Australian-born film writer and director whose early work was done in New Zealand - Sleeping Dogs. He moved to Hollywood, using New Zealand locations and facilities for many of his Hollywood films: The Bounty, Marie, the excellent thriller No Way Out with Kevin Costner and Gene Hackman, Cocktail with Tom Cruise and Bryan Brown, and Cadillac Man with Robin Williams.
This film received acclaim for its dramatic presentation of New Zealand town life, a crumbling marriage. It is well served by the performance of Bruno Lawrence in the central role. Lawrence played a major part in the New Zealand industry of the '80s and was also prominent in Australian films and television. His co-star is Anna Jemison, who returned to her name of Anna Maria Monticelli later in the '80s and appeared in a number of Australian films including Silver City. She also appeared in the Hollywood thriller Nomads.
The film is a portrait of people trapped in their environment and either making decisions or being forced to make decisions.
1. The film's acclaim, New Zealand film industry, its contribution? Portrait of local people and environment. Universal impact?
2. The New Zealand locations, the town, the details and the flavour of the atmosphere, the look of the town and its style? The people, the Smash Palace, motor racing, the pubs, police? The musical score and songs?
3. The title and its use, the song, audience curiosity about the title? The smash opening, racing cars, the graveyard of wrecked cars, Smash Palace as the auto yard? The question of rebuilding Smash Palace or not? A palace for Al and Georgie but not for Jacqui? A symbol?
4. The title and the impact of smashing, crashes, cars, relationships, marriage? The possibilities and the ending?
5. The introduction to the Shaws: Al and his work, taciturn, tending the car, his relationship with his offsider? Offhand with people and self-preoccupied? Friendship with Ray, talking things over, drinking, playing pool? The antagonism of Frank and others in the town? His not going to the dance with Jacqui? His love for Jacqui, her past and her going on the circuit, his difficulty with her elitist attitudes? Working instead of working on his relationship? Jacqui and her frustrations, the arguments? Yet the tender sequences in the house, the bath, going out together, with Georgie? His going out, his alienation from her and getting irritated? His love for Georgie, working with her, the garage, going out for the drive, not having the picnic? Georgie in the house - and her hearing her parents' quarrels?
6. Understanding the characters better, the reasons for the tension? The picnic, the clash between Jacqui and Al, the arguments, frustrations? Boredom? The eruption, the violence in the house, sexual violence and Jacqui's decision to leave?
7. Ray and his place as Jacqui's confidante, listening, being a friend to Al? His own broken marriage? His friendship, going to Jacqui's house, the affair, Al's enmity, taking Ray by force in the siege? His inability to shoot Ray?
8. Georgie and her life at the Smash Palace, enjoying it, the car? Her love for her mother and her father? Her father's leaving, Jacqui's worry about him taking her, getting the injunction to protect Georgie? The kidnap of Georgie, going off with her father, becoming ill? Going to the chemist? In the siege, being set free?
9. Jacqui on her own, going back to teaching, discussing things with her friends, the new way of life, the house, the relationship with Ray - and the indications of it early when she went to the dance without Al, her drinking and being merry on the bridge? Al and his taking Georgie, his wanting revenge? Going to the house, stripping off and driving away? Her reaction to Al's taking Georgie? The siege?
10. Al, the collapse of the marriage, frustration, trying to talk things over with his associate (who was so sympathetic with Jacqui as well)? The attack, going to jail, people's enmity in the town and his being bashed? Taking Georgie, faking the accident, her birthday party, the illness, his happiness - frustrated and broken, the siege and his desperation? The open-endedness of the final sequence?
11. New Zealand, the town, family, relationships, marriage break-up, smash marriage?
