 Solution

Take $x$ down the plane and $y$ normally away from it, with the solid at $y=0$ and the free surface at $y=h$. A steady unidirectional falling film flow has velocity $\mathbf{u}=u(y){\mathbf{e}}_x$. The streamwise Navier-Stokes equation reduces towhere $\nu$ is the kinematic viscosity. The lower no-slip boundary condition and upper stress-free boundary condition areIntegrating gives the velocity profileThe volume flux per unit width is

If the upper surface is replaced by a stationary solid plane, the second boundary condition becomes $u(h)=0$. The resulting plane-channel profile and flux areThe free surface exerts no tangential shear stress, whereas the stationary upper wall enforces no slip and exerts a retarding shear. This additional drag accounts for the reduced flux.