  The tribological properties of two smooth surfaces in the presence of a thin
confined film are investigated with a generic model for the interaction between
two surfaces and with computer simulations. It is shown that at large normal
contact pressures, an ultra thin film automatically leads to static friction
between two flat surfaces - even if the surfaces are incommensurate.
Commensurability is nevertheless the key quantity to understand the
tribological behavior of the contact. Qualitative differences between
commensurate and incommensurate contacts remain even in the presence of a thin
film. The differences mainly concern the thermal diffusion of the contact and
the transition between smooth sliding and stick-slip.
