We present a continuum theory for chiral liquid crystal films based on the concept of a directed material surface. The director field models the small-scale structure consisting of oriented polar molecules arranged to form a surface in three space. The local energetics favor molecules of fixed length which may be tilted relative to the surface normal. In general these molecules possess a natural orientation and so induce chirality which is taken into account in the continuum theory. The structure of the theory is discussed with emphasis on material symmetry and canonical representations. Some simple solutions are exhibited.
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