  In recent years, there has been a considerable interest in the mechanics of
soft objects meeting fluid interfaces (elasto-capillary interactions). In this
work we experimentally examine the case of a fluid resting on a thin film of
rigid material which, in turn, is resting on a fluid substrate. To simplify
complexity, we adapt the experiment to a one-dimensional geometry and examine
the behaviour of polystyrene and polycarbonate films directly with confocal
microscopy. We find that the fluid meets the film in a manner consistent with
the Young-Dupr\'e equation when the film is thick, but transitions to what
appears similar to a Neumann like balance when the thickness is decreased.
However, on closer investigation we find that the true contact angle is always
given by the Young construction. The apparent paradox is a result of
macroscopically measured angles not being directly related to true microscopic
contact angles when curvature is present. We model the effect with the
Euler-Bernoulli beam on a Winkler foundation as well as with an equivalent
energy based capillary model. Notably, the models highlight several important
lengthscales and the complex interplay of tension, gravity and bending in the
problem.
