New German Cinema
In 1959 she became acquainted with director Edgar Reitz, with whom she worked on short documentaries through about 1966. Reitz introduced her to the director Alexander Kluge; Reitz, Kluge, and Mainka became early exponents of the New German Cinema. Mainka's long collaboration with Kluge began with "Die Patriotin" ("The Patriotic Woman") (1964), and extended through 1986 including the films "Yesterday Girl" (1966) and "" (1968).