A high-quality optical compensator for use in liquid crystal display elements can be prepared from a film comprising an end unit modified liquid crystalline polymer which has a monofunctional structural unit and which exhibits an optically positive uniaxiality, and, as needed, a liquid crystalline polymer which has a logarithmic viscosity at least 0.01 dl/g higher than that of the end unit modified liquid crystalline polymer and a glass transition point at least 5 °C higher than that of the end unit modified liquid crystalline polymer and which exhibits an optically positive uniaxiality, wherein a nematic hybrid orientation which is formed in the liquid crystal state is immobilized.