30min. 16mm B&W 1996
Produced, Written, Cinematographed, Edited, and Directed by Toshiro MATSUNAGA
Synopsis
The protagonist, a boxer, dreams of his girlfriend on the mat after being taken down while sparring. The next day, he follows a man with dyed blond hair to the racetrack, and loses him in the crowd of spectators. But when she finally sees her lover with the blond man…. A tapestry of images interwoven with memory, reality, and illusion.

This film IF HE HAD BEEN ROBERTO (Japanese title: Roberto-no-Youni), the 30-minute short film without any dialogue, was invited to screen at 14 international film festivals around the world, won the Grand Prix at the Uppsala International Short Film Festival (Sweden), that led to the nomination for the Best Short Live Action Film at the 70th Academy Awards.
The comments presented by Louise Bown, director of the Uppsala International Short Film Festival, aptly describe the significance of the film.
“For a daring structure and a universal and evocative rendition of how the borders between reality, dream and nightmare dissolve.”

SCREENED AT
　- Amiens International Film Festival (France 1996)
　- Pesaro International Film Festival (Italy 1997)
　- Humboldt International Film Festival (California, USA 1997)
　- Asian American International Film Festival (New York, USA 1997)
　- Empire State Exhibition (New York, USA 1997)
　- San Juan Cinema Fest (Puerto Rico 1997)
　- Brisbane International Film Festival (Australia 1997)
　- Leeds International Film Festival (U.K. 1997)
　- Uppsala International Short Film Festival (Sweden 1997)
　- Ghent International Fiction Film Festival (Belgium 1997)
　- Barcelona International Film Festival (Spain 1997)
　- Kerala International Film Festival (India 1998)
　- Mito Short Film Festival (Japan 1999)
　- Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival (Japan 1997)

AWARDS
　– Grand-Prix (Best Fiction Film Award) at Uppsala International Short Film Festival (Sweden 1997)
　– First Prize for Montage and Second Prize for Soundtrack at Ghent International Fiction Film Festival (Belgium 1997)
　– Judge’s Choice Award at Humboldt International Film Festival (California, USA 1997)
　– The 70th Academy Awards Nominee for Best Live Action Short Film