Disclosed is a multilayer compensator polymeric film for a LC cell comprising two or more first layers having an out-of-plane birefringence not more negative than −0.005 and one or more second layers having an out-of-plane birefringence more negative than −0.005, wherein the second layers are amorphous and comprise selected polymeric materials having sufficient thickness so that the overall in-plane retardation (Re) of the compensator is from 0 to 300 nm and the out-of-plane retardation (Rth) of at least one of the one or more second layers is more negative than −20 nm wherein: (a) a first layer is present that is contiguous to a second layer and is between all of the second layers and all of the other first layers; (b) at least one of the second layers or one of the other first layers is a layer coated from an organic solvent; and (c) the contiguous first layer contains a polymer that is water soluble or water dispersible in an amount sufficient to impede the diffusion of the organic solvent between the other first layers and the second layers.