Mimura (film and media and Asian American studies, U. of California) notes that while Asian American filmmakers have created a significant amount of diverse and challenging work that re-frames cultural and political representation of Asian Americans, much of it is unknown. This, the author's first book, is an exercise in critical theory and an exploration of Asian American representation or, more specifically, the cyclical disappearance and reappearance of that representation. For the author, the Asian American cinema is the somewhat spectral return of Third Cinema, an international film movement. The discussion of this and other issues is conducted in well-researched detail. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)