The film's French version title is Le Réveil de l'Asie.In 1944, during the Second World War, Allied forces are beginning to occupy Axis-occupied Asia.

At the same time, great forces are also at work in the Indian sub-continent, Indo-Asia Pacific and China as nationalist movements vie for self-determination.

In China, the nationalist movement begun by visionary leader Sun Yat-sen has galvanized the occupied people in their struggle against Japan.

[1] [Note 1] A large proportion of the film was composed on newsreel material from the inter-war period, continuing to foster the outmoded image of "romance, glamour and intrigue" that characterized the westerner's perception of the East.

[4] When Asia Speaks as part of the NFB's The World in Action newsreel series, was produced in 35 mm for the theatrical market.