Los Angeles, May 31 (IANS/EFE): Ethan Hawke, star of films as diverse as "Before Sunrise" and "Training Day", says US society is more alarmed by sex in movies than by onscreen violence.

The 42-year-old actor made that observation in a chat with EFE and other news outlets ahead of the June 7 premiere of his latest film, "The Purge", a violent flick set in a dystopian future.

"Our country's relationship with sex and violence is a fascinating mystery to me," Hawke said, noting that both of his most recent films: "The Purge" and "Before Midnight" - a romance released last week, received R ratings.

"Puritanism and liberalism go hand-in-hand. I have done interviews for 'Before Midnight' and only the Americans asked me about (co-star) Julie Delpy's breasts, like little kids who have never seen a boob. And for a breast the film gets the same restriction as 'The Purge', a horror movie," the actor said.

Set in the year 2022, "The Purge" depicts a US where the government, having virtually eliminated street crime, designates a period of 12 hours every year when anything goes, including murder.

The stated objective is to give the populace a chance to purge accumulated tension, hatred and resentment, but almost all of the victims of the authorized mayhem are poor people.