The surface free energy of rubbed polyvinyl alcohol was studied. A mechanical rubbing to the polymer causes change in chemicophysical characteristics in outermost layer of the polymer. The increase of rubbing strength causes the decrease in the surface free energy of the polymer. The rubbed polymer thin films show a significant anisotropy in wettability. It is found that in the anti-rubbing-direction the contact angle of a liquid crystal is smaller. The increase of the rubbing strength leads to the decrease in the contact angle.