To my mind, Tony Harrison's Prometheus is one of the best films in my catalog · Now nearly twenty years since its release and shown on British television, it amazes me that it has not received wider distribution · Is there a back-story?
There is much in the film that is mystery and controversal, and it no doubt helps that I have a fair understanding of the Prometheusian myth · The immortal gods Epimetheus and Prometheus took on the task of endowing humans with gifts so that they might survive and prosper · Epimetheus liberally spread around such gifts as fur and wings but by the time he got around to humans, he had run out of gifts · Feeling sorry for their weak and naked state, Prometheus raided the workshop of Hephaistos and Athena on Mount Olympus and stole fire, and by hiding it in a hollow fennel-stalk, he gave the valuable gift to humans which would help them in life’s struggle · The Titan god also taught man how to use their gift and so the skill of metalwork began; he also came to be associated with science and culture · Zeus was not at all pleased, and had Prometheus chained to a cliff where an eagle came daily to eat his liver · The liver regenerated nightly (since Prometheus was immortal) and so the cycle continued · Hercules eventually comes to the rescue, but that is another story (see Ancient History Encycyopedia in links section) ·
Harrison, to say the least, is scepitcal of Prometheus as being mankind's benefactor · The film is a bitter and cutting attack on the modern "free market" economies · While made during the height of Thatcherism, it is perhaps even more relevant in our time of Trumpism ·

I have not found this film to have had a dvd release · It is available for free streaming on YouTube. It should not be confused with other films of name "Prometheus."