Guest Curator Janice Petersen selects her SBS On Demand favourites

Journalist and presenter for SBS World News, Janice Petersen takes us through her top picks to stream at SBS On Demand. From hilarious travel docos to 90s action classics and everything in between, she's taken the guess work out of what to watch next.

Janice Petersen Guest Curator

(L-R) 'Janice Petersen', 'Point Break', 'Alphaville', 'Travel Man'. Source: SBS

Travel Man

"It's fair to say that host Richard Ayoade is not signed up to the belief that, 'It's more about the journey than the destination.' He just wants to get to his destination, zip around a few spots in 48 hours and then get the hell out of there. He always takes a mate, usually a comedian, as his travel partner, and the two of them are often bemused and confused as they have a quick sticky beak.

Even when the sights and scenery turn out to be underwhelming, Richard's signature deadpan and wildly verbose turn of phrase makes it feel like a fun ride."

Stream free On Demand

Thumbnail of Travel Man: 48 Hours in...

Travel Man: 48 Hours in...

series • 
documentary
PG
series • 
documentary
PG

PBS Newshour

"The Friday Brooks and Capehart is must-watch TV for me. A thoughtful and analytical summary of the week in US politics. They wear their political stripes proudly. Jonathan Capehart from The Washington Post leans left while his sparring partner David Brooks from The New York Times is in the conservative camp. They're rarely in fulsome agreement but these two thoughtful journalists always serve up a respectful and probing discussion which teases out a broad picture of US politics.

From Jim Lehrer to Judy Woodruff, I've seen legendary hosts come and go. But no matter who's fronting the show, it's always a well-balanced, nuanced look at the state of the US."

PBS Newshour airs on SBS 1pm Tuesday–Saturday and is available to stream  (daily episodes available to stream for 7 days only).

Stream free On Demand

Thumbnail of PBS Newshour

PBS Newshour

series • 
News - Overseas
series • 
News - Overseas

The Handmaid's Tale

"I've been a fan since season one and am a nightmare to watch this series with. I pretty much put every episode under the microscope and draw meaning through the use of colours, shapes and classical elements, and find it hard to not provide a running commentary throughout the show. I'm desperate to find out how it will end and how many twitchy-faced close ups June will throw at us."

Zero Zero Zero

"A masterfully crafted drama series looking at the far-reaching transnational tentacles of cocaine smuggling and all the players, big and small, who get caught in its grip. It's perhaps not for the faint of heart, but it is a must-watch for the performances and camera work. A beautifully edited and acted opus on a dark subject.

Take in the performance of one of the leads, Andrea Riseborough. You can boast to whoever will listen that you loved her work in this, waaaay before she got her Oscars nom."

"Zero Zero Zero is 10 out of 10."

Hurry! Zero Zero Zero will be leaving  on 31 March.

Point Break

"Gah. Take me back to high school! This was such a welcome break from ho-hum rom-coms and bratty spring break-type movies of the day. It shows off Patrick Swayze at his charismatic best and allows Keanu Reeves more range than he delivered in Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure."

Stream free On Demand

Thumbnail of Point Break

Point Break

action • 
thriller • 
1991
action • 
thriller • 
1991

A Private War

"Rosamund Pike delivers a powerhouse performance as one of the world's most celebrated war correspondents, Marie Colvin. The scenes on the front line are raw and gripping. This movie brings to life the stark and dangerous job of finding wrenching stories of people in conflict zones and putting them on the front page."

Alphaville

"Alphaville by acclaimed director Jean-Luc Godard takes me back to Film Studies at uni. This classic French New Wave sci-fi film manages to pull off the genre without a single futuristic prop and is instead set against a very hip 60s Paris backdrop. Anna Karina, a key collaborator and wife of Godard, is magic. Her style is effortless and enduring. Instagram influencers could never!

Sure, it's a radical departure from the slickness of today's movies, but this is Godard destroying cinema. It's as cool and chic as you can get. If you want pure escapism, here's your ticket."

The Swap

"I saw the trailer and am keen to see more of this. Local content, great concept."
In a trail-blazing, television-first original series, new three-part documentary series The Swap follows what happens when 12 students and families from very different cultures, religions and backgrounds are thrown into each other's worlds.

Stream free On Demand

Thumbnail of The Swap

The Swap

series • 
documentary
PG
series • 
documentary
PG

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4 min read
Published 8 March 2023 9:22pm
Updated 26 September 2023 10:15am
By SBS Guide
Source: SBS

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