OPTICAL FILM, CIRCULARLY POLARIZING PLATE, AND IMAGE DISPLAY DEVICE

A optical film includes a thermoplastic resin and a compound wherein: (1) the absorption spectrum of said compound in solution has at least two absorption maxima in the 200-350 nm wavelength range; (2) letting λmax1 represent the wavelength of a first absorption maximum (one of the aforementioned absorption maxima) and letting λmax2 represent the wavelength of a second absorption maximum (another of the aforementioned absorption maxima) at a shorter wavelength than the first absorption maximum, (λmax1−λmax2) is at least 20 nm; (3) the aspect ratio of the molecules of the compound is at least 1.70; (4) each molecule of the compound has a non-aromatic hydrocarbon ring, a non-aromatic heterocycle, or an aromatic heterocycle; (5) the in-plane-retardation increase sensitivity of the compound is at least 0.1; 110 nm R0(550) 170 nm; 0.72 R0(450)/R0(550) 0.96; and 0.83 R0(550)/R0(650) 0.97.