From time to time in the last several years I keep remembering a movie I saw perhaps 15-20 years ago. At the time it made me laugh to the point of discomfort. I would love to see it again but I don't know the title nor any of the actors or the director etc.. I do
remember enough of the story line that I am hoping that you might be able to identify it for me.

This is all vague, but as I remember it, the setting is a small medieval hill town in Italy. A bunch of con men who are either trying to hide from the law or are planning a heist end up in this quaint town and pretend they are making a movie as their cover.

They don’t know the first thing about cinematography, but none-the-less they proceed to make a film using many of the local town folks, who are quite excited by the prospect of being involved. I am pretty fuzzy beyond that but do remember that toward the end I believe they are arrested and tried and there defense attorney shows their movie in an attempt to establish them as legit filmmakers rather than the con men that they actually are. Their film is god awful amateurism. Every mistake in the book is made including numerous head shots taken with wide angle lenses from 12 inches away. At any rate the film community finds it totally cutting edge and lauds it with praise and I believe as a result that are not convicted.

Ring any bells?

I got it answered elsewhere: After the Fox Vittoria de Sica 1966