Liquid crystalline compositions contain no functional group the synthesis of which is difficult, such as (meth)acrylate and epoxy group and comprise (A) an oxetane compound having an optically active portion, (B) a side chain liquid crystalline polymeric substance having an oxetanyl group, and (C) a photo cation generator and/or a thermal cation generator. The use of the composition can provide a cholesteric-aligned liquid crystal film with excellent alignment retention properties after being fixed in the liquid crystal state and mechanical strength, without employing any complicated step such as photo irradiation under an inert gas atmosphere.