How to Pull Out a Whale's Tooth

Eight year old Vasek lives with his mother Anna and watches their world tilt when his father is no longer part of their daily life. Vasek wonders if changing the man in charge of their household could bring happiness back to his mother and a sense of security to their home. He hatches a plan that he believes will fix everything, enlisting the help of his grandparents, a neighbor, and a few clumsy misfires along the way. Each failed audition for a new father becomes a comic lesson about love, responsibility, and what a real family looks like. The result is a warm, funny look at how a child navigates grown up longing.

Directed by Marie Poledňáková, this 1977 Czech family comedy sits within the director's favored late 70s catalog. It stars Tomáš Holý as Vasek and Jana Preissová as Anna Rychmanová, with František Němec and Vlastimil Harapes in supporting roles. The film blends gentle humor with everyday concerns and uses a light touch to explore the bond between mother and child, the idea of a makeshift family, and the small misadventures that test our ideas of love.

Box office data for this title is not publicly documented, and there are no widely cited worldwide gross figures available for reference. The film is instead appreciated for its charm and the performance carried by its young lead.

The movie is remembered as a bright example of 1970s Czech family cinema, offering a playful yet affectionate portrait of daily life. Tomáš Holý's energetic performance and Poledňáková's approachable direction helped the film stay in audience memory long after release. It became a favorite among families who grew up watching it on television or in cinema lineups, standing out for its warm tone and relatable moments.

Reception and Themes: Critics welcomed its easygoing tone and gentle humor that treats serious themes like family bonds and parental roles without heavy drama. The film invites viewers to reflect on what really makes a family, showing how love and care can grow from imperfect plans and everyday acts of kindness.