A dye thin film containing a dye compound represented by the general formula (I), an optical switch, an optical distributor, an optical modulator and an optical switch array having the dye thin film, as well as a method for producing a dye thin film are provided. The method includes the step of coating the solution of the dye compound on a substrate: where R1 and R2 may be identical or different from each other and each represents, respectively, a linear alkyl group or a branched alkyl group, the dye thin film having high thermal stability, having intense absorption at approximately 1.3 μm and having ultrafast response characteristic.