US society more scared of sex than violence: Ethan Hawke

Los Angeles: 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. (IANS/EFE)