Supertwisted, nematic liquid crystal display device with LC birefringence at least 0.2 and LC retardation at least 1 micrometer

A liquid crystal display device comprising:

• a liquid crystal cell including a first substrate having a first electrode, a second substrate having a second electrode, which is opposite to said first substrate, and a nematic liquid crystal layer disposed between said first substrate and said second substrate;
• a first polarizer disposed outside of said first substrate;
• a second polarizer disposed outside of said second substrate;
• and
• at least one optically anisotropic layer disposed at least one of between said first substrate and said first polarizer and between said second substrate and said second polarizer;
• wherein said liquid crystal display device has characteristics that, in the case where a first driving voltage V.sub.1, which is higher than a threshold voltage which is a driving voltage, in the neighborhood of which alignment of a molecular axis of said nematic liquid crystal varies sharply, is applied between said first electrode and said second electrode, transmittance of said liquid crystal display device is smaller than 2% and in the case where a second driving voltage V.sub.2, which is higher than said threshold voltage, is applied between said first electrode and said second electrode, transmittance of said liquid crystal display device is greater than 12%, where said first driving voltage V.sub.1 and said second driving voltage V.sub.2 have a relationship 0.87.ltoreq.(V.sub.1 /V.sub.2).ltoreq.1.15.