Water-insoluble free-standing films of partially quaternized poly(1-vinylimidazole)-bound ruthenium(II) complexes are prepared, and photoinduced hydrogen generation is observed with light irradiation (λ > 440 nm) of aqueous solutions containing the polymer-bound ruthenium(II) complex film, methyl viologen, triethanolamine and bis(2,2′-bipyridine)platinum(II).