The present invention pertains to a polarizing film containing an
azo compound, represented by formula (1) below, or a salt thereof. (In formula (1): Ra1, Ra2, Ab1, and Ab2 are such that ring a or ring b has been substituted; one of Ra1 and Ra2 represents a
hydroxy group, and the other represents a
hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, a C1 to C4
alkoxy group, or a C1 to C4
alkoxy group having a sulfo group; one of Ab1 and Ab2 represents a sulfo group, a carboxy group, or an amino group that may contain a
substituent, and the other is a
substituent selected from the group consisting of a
hydrogen atom, a sulfo group, a carboxy group, or an amino group that may have a
substituent; Rb1 to Rb6 each independently represent a
hydrogen atom, a C1 to C4
alkyl group, a C1 to C4
alkoxy group, a sulfo group, a C1 to C4 alkoxy group having a sulfo group, or an amino group that may have a substituent; h represents 0 or 1; Xb1 indicates an amino group that may have at least one substituent S, a phenylamino group that may have a substituent, a phenylazo group that may have a substituent, a naphthotriazole group that may have a substituent, or a benzoylamino group that may have a substituent; and the substituent S is selected from the group consisting of C1 to C4
alkyl groups, C1 to C4 alkoxy groups, sulfo groups, amino groups, C1 to C4 alkylamino groups, hydroxy groups, carboxy groups, and carboxyethylamino groups, and is different from Ra1, Ra2, Ab1, and Ab2.