  By studying the rotations of the polarization of light propagating in right
and left handed films, with emphasis on the transmission (Faraday effect) and
reflec- tions (Kerr effect) of light and through the use of complex values
representing the rotations, it can be shown that the real portions of the
complex angle of Faraday and Kerr rotations are odd functions with respect to
the refractive index n and that the respective imaginary portions of the angles
are an even function of n. Multiple reflections within the medium lead to the
maximums of the real portions of Faraday and Kerr effects to not coincide with
zero ellipticity. It will also be shown that in the thin film case with left
handed materials there are large resonant enhancements of the reflected Kerr
angle that could be obtained experimentally.
