The study demonstrates the precise and repeatable bending of a polymer film using linearly polarized light. The film, composed of a liquid-crystal network with azobenzene chromophores, undergoes photo-contraction, converting light energy into mechanical energy. By irradiating the film with 366-nm linearly polarized light, the film can be bent in any chosen direction, with the bending direction aligning parallel to the light polarization. The bending can be reversed by exposing the film to visible light longer than 540 nm. The bending-unbending cycle can be repeated without significant fatigue, making this system potentially useful for high-speed actuators in micro-robots and other micro/nanoscale applications. The mechanism involves the selective absorption of light, leading to a trans-cis isomerization of azobenzene moieties, which causes a reduction in the microscopic size and ordering of liquid-crystal components, resulting in macroscopic volume contraction and bending.The study demonstrates the precise and repeatable bending of a polymer film using linearly polarized light. The film, composed of a liquid-crystal network with azobenzene chromophores, undergoes photo-contraction, converting light energy into mechanical energy. By irradiating the film with 366-nm linearly polarized light, the film can be bent in any chosen direction, with the bending direction aligning parallel to the light polarization. The bending can be reversed by exposing the film to visible light longer than 540 nm. The bending-unbending cycle can be repeated without significant fatigue, making this system potentially useful for high-speed actuators in micro-robots and other micro/nanoscale applications. The mechanism involves the selective absorption of light, leading to a trans-cis isomerization of azobenzene moieties, which causes a reduction in the microscopic size and ordering of liquid-crystal components, resulting in macroscopic volume contraction and bending.